cutthroat

Cutthroat is an adjective and noun used to describe extreme ruthlessness or a person who treats rivals with brutal efficiency. The term derives from the literal act of cutting a throat, and in modern usage it often conveys a crowded, highly aggressive environment where competition is fierce and rules may be bent. In economics and business, cutthroat describes markets or practices marked by intense rivalry, aggressive pricing, and a willingness to sacrifice long-term ethics for short-term gain. Cutthroat pricing involves lowering prices to drive competitors out of business, often triggering broader price wars. The phrase is also applied to politics, sports, and other domains where opponents are rapidly outmaneuvered or crushed by aggressive tactics. Some jurisdictions regulate anti-competitive behavior under competition or antitrust laws.

Cutthroat trout, or Oncorhynchus clarkii, is a species of freshwater fish native to western North America. It comprises several subspecies, including the coastal cutthroat and Lahontan cutthroat trout. The fish typically inhabits cold streams, rivers, and lakes; it is valued by anglers but faces conservation challenges in parts of its range due to habitat degradation, water management, and interbreeding with non-native species. The name comes from a distinctive coloration on the lower jaw—a reddish to orange slash along the gill area.