the dogs of war
Preserved but no longer current.
The horrors of war, especially famine, sword, and fire. And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge, With At6 by his side, come hot from hell. Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice, Cry "Havoc," and let slip the dogs of war.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “the dogs of war” mean?
The horrors of war, especially famine, sword, and fire. And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge, With At6 by his side, come hot from hell. Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice, Cry "Havoc," and let slip the dogs of war.
Is “the dogs of war” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.