Cool MateEvery man for himself vs Isolated
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Every man for himself
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Isolated
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Most formal: IsolatedMost common: Isolated
| Every man for himself | Isolated | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈɛvri mæn fə hɪmˈsɛlf//🇺🇸 //ˈɛvri mæn fɔr hɪmˈsɛlf// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈaɪsəleɪtɪd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈaɪsəleɪtɪd/"]/ |
| Meaning | Each person should take care of themselves first. | alone and away from others |
| Example | In this harsh environment, it's truly every man for himself. | The village was isolated by the heavy snowfall, cutting off all roads. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | survival of the fittest, rude awakening, dog eat dog | appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, from, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, from |
| Antonyms | - | connected, integrated, included |
| Common mistakes | Misuse in formal contexts, as it's informal and somewhat selfish., Confused with 'every man for himself and God for us all', which is a more complex phrase. | Confused with 'isolated' vs 'isolation' in context., Using 'isolated' to describe only physical space, not emotional situations., Incorrectly applying it to describe crowds instead of individuals. |
| Usage notes | Often used in competitive or stressful situations where individuals must prioritize their own needs over others. | Use 'isolated' to describe someone or something that is separated from others. Suitable in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid when discussing social gatherings or closeness. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Every man for himself vs Isolated
What's the difference between Every man for himself and Isolated?
Every man for himself: Each person should take care of themselves first. Isolated: alone and away from others
Which is more formal: Every man for himself and Isolated?
Isolated is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Every man for himself and Isolated?
Isolated is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Every man for himself: In this harsh environment, it's truly every man for himself. Isolated: The village was isolated by the heavy snowfall, cutting off all roads.
Can I use Every man for himself and Isolated interchangeably?
Not always. Every man for himself and Isolated are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.