every man for himself

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈɛv.(ə.)ɹi mæn fɔː(ɹ) hɪmˈsɛlf/

every man for himself

1. (nautical) A command, issued in case of shipwreck, that crew members are relieved of all duties and should try to save themselves.

   Antonym: women and children first

   Coordinate term: every woman for herself

   • 1955, Walter Lord, quoting RMS Titanic Captain Edward Smith, A Night to Remember, page 86:

     Men, you have done your full duty. You can do no more. Abandon your cabin. Now it's every man for himself.

2. (figurative) An expression of indifference, describing or advocating selfishness, lack of comradeship etc.

every-man-for-himself (not comparable)

1. selfish

   I quit show business because there was too much of an every-man-for-himself attitude going on.

   There was an every-man-for-himself attitude during the time of the Great Depression in 1930s America.