pecking order
Americannoun
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Animal Behavior. a dominance hierarchy, seen especially in domestic poultry, that is maintained by one bird pecking another of lower status.
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a sequence or hierarchy of authority in an organization or social group.
noun
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Also called: peck order. a natural hierarchy in a group of gregarious birds, such as domestic fowl
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any hierarchical order, as among people in a particular group
Etymology
Origin of pecking order
First recorded in 1925–30
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Instead, Jacob Bethell took the opportunity to climb the pecking order.
From BBC
Discovery on Monday—the latest twist in an ongoing takeover saga that is likely to upend the Hollywood pecking order.
From Barron's
Discovery on Monday—the latest twist in an ongoing takeover saga that is likely to upend the Hollywood pecking order.
From Barron's
Discovery on Monday—the latest twist in an ongoing takeover saga that is likely to upend the Hollywood pecking order.
From Barron's
Paramount’s counter offer marks the latest plot twist in a takeover saga that is likely to upend the Hollywood pecking order.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.