Writing down what you hear, on the other hand, might result in all kinds of new idioms, such as "doggy-dog world," rather than the accurate "dog-eat-dog world" (a term defined by Cambridge Dictionary as "used to describe a situation in which people will do anything to be successful, even if what they do harms others..."). Dogs are known to use human language. Scientists have recorded dogs' barks and whines while they were being treated for cancer at the University of Lincoln, UK. They found that the canines used specific words when they needed to express certain feelings, just like humans do. They also learned to mimic sounds that they heard around them, such as cars driving by or children playing. Thus, "doggy-dog world" could be understood as a reference to how aggressive society is nowadays, where everyone tries to better themselves by looking out for number one. The phrase may also be associated with doggish behavior, such as chewing up furniture or stealing food, since dogs who act this way will be popular with their peers.