{"id":6472,"date":"2022-08-28T18:16:29","date_gmt":"2022-08-28T18:16:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=6472"},"modified":"2022-08-28T18:16:29","modified_gmt":"2022-08-28T18:16:29","slug":"cry-havoc-and-let-slip-the-dogs-of-war-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/cry-havoc-and-let-slip-the-dogs-of-war-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Cry Havoc and Let Slip the Dogs of War \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Did you hear someone say <strong><em>\u2018cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war\u2019 <\/em><\/strong>as they were walking into the office? Are they upset with someone? Should you be worried about their behavior?<\/p>\n<p>This post unpacks everything you need to know about the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n<h2>Meaning<\/h2>\n<p>The expression \u2018<em>cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war\u2019<\/em> is an old military expression. However, it no longer has its original meaning relating to warfare on the battlefield. Today, \u2018<em>cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war\u2019<\/em> is a motivating statement you can use to inspire yourself or others when taking on a challenging task.<\/p>\n<h2>Example Usage<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cOk, honey, I\u2019ll help Sofie get dressed this morning. I know she\u2019s a handful when you\u2019re trying to get ready in the morning. Well, it\u2019s time to cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have everything we need to take down the other team. We have the skills, the manager, and the crowd behind us. It\u2019s time to cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war. Let\u2019s go!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen your back is against the wall, and there\u2019s no way out, it\u2019s time to cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war. Muster your courage and strength, and head out onto the battlefield.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-6473\" src=\"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Cry-Havoc-and-Let-Slip-the-Dogs-of-War-300x158.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"158\" srcset=\"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Cry-Havoc-and-Let-Slip-the-Dogs-of-War-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Cry-Havoc-and-Let-Slip-the-Dogs-of-War.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6474\" src=\"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Cry-Havoc-and-Let-Slip-the-Dogs-of-War2-300x232.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"204\" height=\"158\" srcset=\"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Cry-Havoc-and-Let-Slip-the-Dogs-of-War2-300x232.png 300w, https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Cry-Havoc-and-Let-Slip-the-Dogs-of-War2.png 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 204px) 100vw, 204px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Origin<\/h2>\n<p>The saying 'cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war' originates from the play 'Julius Caesar,' written by William Shakespeare and first performed in 1601. The phrase appears in the play after the murder of Caesar, as Anthony regrets his actions and the uncertainty to follow. The line reads as follows.<\/p>\n<p>\"Blood and destruction shall be so in use<\/p>\n<p>And dreadful objects so familiar<\/p>\n<p>That mothers shall but smile when they behold<\/p>\n<p>Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;<\/p>\n<p>All pity choked with custom of fell deeds:<\/p>\n<p>And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,<\/p>\n<p>With Ate by his side come hot from hell,<\/p>\n<p>Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice<\/p>\n<p>Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;<\/p>\n<p>That this foul deed shall smell above the earth<\/p>\n<p>With carrion men, groaning for burial.\"<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Cry Havoc, Let slip the dogs of war! (Charlton Heston) 1970\" width=\"512\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iIRa5kl2L88?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Phrases Similar to Cry Havoc and Let Slip the Dogs of War<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Phrases Opposite to Cry Havoc and Let Slip the Dogs of War<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Retreat.<\/li>\n<li>Surrender.<\/li>\n<li>Give up.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What is the Correct Saying?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Ways People May Say Cry Havoc and Let Slip the Dogs of War Incorrectly<\/h2>\n<p>The phrase has nothing to do with dogs. It\u2019s a rallying cry used by going to battle. However, the modern use of the saying is suitable for preparing for any challenge you dislike or don\u2019t enjoy. Using the phrase to describe dogs is incorrect.<\/p>\n<h2>Acceptable Ways to Phrase Cry Havoc and Let Slip the Dogs of War<\/h2>\n<p>You can use the expression \u2018cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war\u2019 when you\u2019re steeling yourself for a challenge. The task is difficult, and you\u2019re preparing to rise to the occasion and meet the challenge head-on. It\u2019s no longer an exclusive term to the military and is a common phrase used in business.<\/p>\n<p>You could use the phrase when telling your colleague at work that you\u2019re preparing to meet with a pushy client. You could use it at home when dressing your young child in the morning, and you know she will put up resistance. \u2018Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war\u2019 can also act as a rallying cry, preparing friends or team members for confrontation or a test.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-2\">Did you hear someone say \u2018cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war\u2019 as they were walking into the office? Are they upset with someone? Should you be worried about their behavior? This post unpacks everything you need to know about the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression \u2018cry havoc and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6472"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6472"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6472\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8207,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6472\/revisions\/8207"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6472"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6472"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6472"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}