This phrase is hackneyed because:
* Overused: It's been used so many times that it has lost its original impact.
* Clichéd: It's a predictable and unoriginal way to describe a competitive environment.
* Lacking in nuance: It simplifies a complex reality into a simple and often inaccurate metaphor.
Other examples of hackneyed phrases include:
* "Time flies when you're having fun."
* "The early bird gets the worm."
* "You only live once."
* "There's no place like home."
These phrases are often used as shortcuts to express a common sentiment, but they lack originality and can sound trite and uninspired.