The idiom "beggar thy neighbor" means to take actions that benefit oneself but harm others, especially those who are close to you or in the same community. This phrase is used to describe a situation where one person or group tries to improve their own situation at the expense of others.
For example, if a company lowers its prices to attract customers, it may force other businesses to lower their prices as well, leading to a price war that harms everyone involved. In this case, the company is "beggar[ing] its neighbor" by trying to gain an advantage over its competitors.
The phrase can also be used in a political context, where one country's policies may harm its neighbors. For instance, if a country devalues its currency to boost its own exports, it may make it harder for its neighbors to compete in the global market.
In general, "beggar thy neighbor" is used to describe situations where one person or group benefits at the expense of others, often by taking actions that are harmful or unfair.
• The company decided to cut corners and increase their profits, but in doing so, they "beggar thy neighbor" and put several small businesses out of work.
• Some countries engage in "beggar thy neighbor" policies, like lowering their currency value to make their exports cheaper and hurt their competitors.
• I don't like playing games where one person wins and everyone else loses. That's just "beggar thy neighbor"!
• The trade war between two countries can quickly become a "beggar thy neighbor" situation, where both sides hurt their economies and citizens to gain a slight advantage.
• The corporation's unethical practices of exploiting natural resources and underpaying workers "beggar thy neighbor" and harm the environment and society as a whole.
• The politician's proposed tax cuts may benefit a small group of wealthy people, but it will "beggar thy neighbor" and leave many others struggling to make ends meet.