20 dog idioms that will make your writing a howling success
You'd be barking mad not to know these dog-related idioms
It may be true that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but it's not too late for you to learn these idioms.Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: to tell someone they should not talk about a bad situation that most people have forgotten about
Use it: In the past, you may have let sleeping dogs lie, but now is the time to stand up for what you believe in, and speak the truth.
Go to the dogs
Meaning: to become much worse in quality or character
Use it: “It seems that in my absence you’ve really let the business go to the dogs,” an angry Joe told his friend.
His/her bark is worse than his/her bite
Meaning: someone who acts more fierce than they really are
Use it: I’m sorry the boss shouted at you, but don’t worry. His bark is worse than his bite.
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Dog-tired
Meaning: extremely tired
Use it: After hiking for several hours, he was dog-tired.
In the doghouse
Meaning: a situation in which someone is angry with you for something you did or did not do
Use it: If I don’t give Kate a birthday present, I’ll really be in the doghouse.
Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: going after the wrong person or target
Use it: If the detectives think my friend took part in the robbery, they are barking up the wrong tree.
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Dog-eat-dog
Meaning: used to describe a situation in which people will do anything to be successful, even if what they do harms other people
Use it: Banking is a dog-eat-dog world; some people will do anything to get to the top.
Sick as a dog
Meaning: Very ill, or vomiting a lot
Use it: I was as sick as a dog and could not go to the party.
Dog days
Meaning: the hottest days of the summer; a period of inactivity or decline
Use it: As property prices continue to soar in Hong Kong, people have forgotten the dog days from 1998 to 2003, when home prices plunged by 65 per cent.
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You can’t teach an old dog new tricks
Meaning: it is very difficult to teach someone new skills or to change someone’s habits or character
Use it: Critics say many experienced civil servants are very loyal to the government but they have limited skills. It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks!
Dog-eared
Meaning: a book or paper that looks worn because of the way people turned down the top corner of a page
Use it: Pages were missing from some of the dog-eared books that were given to charity.
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Every dog has its day
Meaning: everyone is successful or happy at some time in their life
Use it: We never win against St Andrews, but yesterday we managed to thrash them. Every dog has its day.
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Call off the dogs
Meaning: stop being nasty to someone or pressuring someone
Use it: My dad scolds me all the time about my poor grades. Can you ask him to call off the dogs, please?
Underdog
Meaning: the weaker of two competitors, or anyone not expected to win a competition
Use it: In a stunning upset, the underdogs beat the reigning champions in the FA Cup final.
Dog-and-pony show
Meaning: an event that it is intended to impress people, often to persuade them to buy something
Use it: The company put on a dog-and-pony show in the hope of attracting new investors.
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It’s a dog’s life
Meaning: life is difficult, unpleasant, or boring
Use it: He has been leading a dog’s life since he lost his job.
Like a dog with two tails
Meaning: very, very happy
Use it: Jenny will be like a dog with two tails if she gets her promotion.
Edited by M. J. Premaratne