Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2007

As always with this sort of question, a bit of context and an
indication of where you found the sentence might help, as would
clarification of whether you are asking what meaning the original
author meant to convey, or what the words used actually mean.

For the first question, I think the original author meant that the
outcome of a fight between dogs is determined not by the sizes of the
dogs but by how aggressive they are.

For the second question (taking the words absolutely literally), the
sentence means nothing, because a dog does not contain a fight, and
although a fight could conceivably be said to have a "size" (how long
it lasts, or how many dogs it involves) such meaning wouldn't make much
sense here.

athel

Determination may compensate for limitations.

"It" = the deciding or important factor

"'s not the "

"size of the dog" = natural abilities

" in the fight, it's the "

"size of the fight" = degree of determination, power of will

" in the dog"

It means that a smaller, scrappier dog can defeat a larger but less
determined dog in a fight.

It is likely meant to be an analogy, rather than literal. In American
college football, a Boise State can defeat an Oklahoma -- a
supposedly superior football team. In College basketball, a George
Mason can defeat a Michigan State (and North Carolina and
Connecticut) -- a supposedly superior basketball team.