having a dog in the fight
Invested in outcome
Having a personal stake in the outcome of a conflict or competition.
The image comes from dogfighting—if your dog is in the ring, you care who wins.
Often used in the negative to signal neutrality or disinterest: I don't have a dog in this fight, so I'll let you two work it out.
Also appears as having a dog in the race or having a horse in the race.
- ownershipLegal right of possession
- interestAttention, stake, or fee
- gambleStake on uncertain outcome
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
- obligationRequired task or commitment
involvement · stakes · dispute · skin in the game · odds · concern · wager · uncertainty · challenge · liability · contest · engagement · opportunity · participation · commitment · taking sides · payoff · zero-sum game
personal stake or vested interest
having a dog in the fightdisinterested
Free from personal stakes
impartial · unbiased · neutral · uninvested · objective