The word “dog” in English idioms can often be confusing, as these expressions frequently have nothing to do with the animal itself. Instead, they describe a wide range of human experiences, from difficult situations to complex relationships.
This article explores the fascinating world of idioms about dogs, helping you understand their origins and precise usage. Master these phrases to enrich your vocabulary and confidently navigate subtle, nuanced conversations with native-like flair.
Best Idioms About Dogs
1. Dog Eat Dog
Meaning: A highly competitive and ruthless environment where people will do anything to succeed.
In a Sentence:
The corporate world can be dog-eat-dog, with everyone fighting for the top spot.
In a dog-eat-dog industry, only the toughest survive.
Other Ways to Say: Cutthroat, Ruthless competition, Every man for himself
2. Gone to the Dogs
Meaning: Something has deteriorated or fallen into a state of decline.
In a Sentence:
The neighborhood has really gone to the dogs since the factory closed.
His once-thriving business has gone to the dogs.
Other Ways to Say: Fallen apart, Declined, In ruins, Deteriorated
3. Barking up the Wrong Tree
Meaning: Mistakenly targeting the wrong person or thing; pursuing a mistaken course of action.
In a Sentence:
If you think I stole your lunch, you’re barking up the wrong tree.
She was barking up the wrong tree when she accused him of lying.
Other Ways to Say: Mistaken, Wrong target, Off the mark, Misguided
4. Dog Tired
Meaning: Extremely exhausted or fatigued.
In a Sentence:
After working a double shift, I was dog tired and just wanted to sleep.
He came home dog-tired after the long hike.
Other Ways to Say: Exhausted, Worn out, Bone-tired, Beat
5. Dog Days of Summer
Meaning: The hottest, most uncomfortable days of summer, often associated with laziness or stagnation.
In a Sentence:
During the dog days of summer, we stayed indoors with the air conditioning.
The dog days of summer make it hard to get any work done.
Other Ways to Say: Hottest days, Swelteringly unbearable, Summer slump
6. Hair of the Dog
Meaning: A small amount of alcohol consumed to cure a hangover.
In a Sentence:
He swore by a hair of the dog to ease his hangover symptoms.
A Bloody Mary is her go-to hair of the dog after a night out.
Other Ways to Say: Hangover cure, Morning-after drink, Sobering remedy
7. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
Meaning: Avoid stirring up trouble or revisiting old conflicts.
In a Sentence:
Don’t bring up that argument again; just let sleeping dogs lie.
It’s best to let sleeping dogs lie and not mention the past.
Other Ways to Say: Leave well alone, Avoid trouble, Don’t stir the pot
8. Like a Dog with Two Tails
Meaning: Extremely happy and excited (British English, informal).
In a Sentence:
She was like a dog with two tails when she got her dream job.
He was like a dog with two tails after winning the prize.
Other Ways to Say: Overjoyed, Ecstatic, Thrilled, Delighted
9. Old Dogs and New Tricks
Meaning: Older people or those set in their ways are unlikely to learn new skills or change habits.
In a Sentence:
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, so he stuck to his old methods.
She laughed, saying she was an old dog who couldn’t learn new tricks.
Other Ways to Say: Set in ways, Resistant to change, Stuck in habits
10. Raining Cats and Dogs
Meaning: Raining very heavily.
In a Sentence:
We canceled the picnic because it was raining cats and dogs.
You’ll need an umbrella; it’s raining cats and dogs out there.
Other Ways to Say: Pouring rain, Heavy downpour, Deluge, Torrential rain
11. Every Dog Has Its Day
Meaning: Everyone gets a chance at success or good fortune eventually.
In a Sentence:
Don’t worry, every dog has its day, and your time will come.
She finally got her promotion; every dog has its day.
Other Ways to Say: Everyone gets a chance, Opportunity comes, Time will come
12. Sick as a Dog
Meaning: Very ill or unwell.
In a Sentence:
I was sick as a dog and couldn’t get out of bed all weekend.
He’s been sick as a dog with the flu.
Other Ways to Say: Very ill, Under the weather, Poorly, Ailing
13. A Dog’s Dinner
Meaning: A mess or something poorly done (British English).
In a Sentence:
The project was a dog’s dinner, with no clear direction.
Her attempt at baking was a real dog’s dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Mess, Disaster, Shambles, Botched job
14. All Bark and No Bite
Meaning: Someone who makes threats or sounds intimidating but doesn’t act on them.
In a Sentence:
He’s all bark and no bite; don’t worry about his threats.
The boss seems tough, but she’s all bark and no bite.
Other Ways to Say: Empty threats, Full of talk, Harmless, Bluster
15. Dog and Pony Show
Meaning: An elaborate presentation or event designed to impress or persuade.
In a Sentence:
The sales pitch was just a dog and pony show to attract investors.
They put on a dog and pony show to win the client’s approval.
Other Ways to Say: Flashy presentation, Showy display, Over-the-top pitch
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Nature That Spark Imagination
16. Dog-eared
Meaning: Pages of a book or document that are worn or folded at the corners from frequent use.
In a Sentence:
The library book was so dog-eared it was hard to read.
Her favorite novel is dog-eared from years of rereading.
Other Ways to Say: Worn, Tattered, Well-used, Creased
17. Work Like a Dog
Meaning: To work extremely hard.
In a Sentence:
I’ve been working like a dog to meet this deadline.
She worked like a dog to finish the renovations on time.
Other Ways to Say: Work tirelessly, Labor hard, Grind away, Toil
18. A Sly Dog
Meaning: Someone who is clever or sneaky in a secretive way.
In a Sentence:
He’s a sly dog, always finding a way to get what he wants.
She’s a sly dog when it comes to negotiating deals.
Other Ways to Say: Sneaky, Crafty, Cunning, Devious
19. Doggy Bag
Meaning: A bag used to take home leftover food from a restaurant.
In a Sentence:
Can you pack the leftovers in a doggy bag for me?
She asked for a doggie bag to take home the extra pizza.
Other Ways to Say: Takeout bag, Leftover container, To-go bag
20. Puppy Dog Eyes
Meaning: A pleading or sad expression used to persuade someone.
In a Sentence:
He gave me those puppy dog eyes, and I couldn’t say no.
She used her puppy dog eyes to get extra dessert.
Other Ways to Say: Pleading look, Sad eyes, Begging expression
21. Dog Around
Meaning: To follow someone closely or persistently, often in an annoying way.
In a Sentence:
The kids were dogging around their mom all day.
He kept dogging around, asking for a favor.
Other Ways to Say: Tag along, Follow closely, Hover around
22. Fighting Like Cats and Dogs
Meaning: Arguing or fighting intensely.
In a Sentence:
The siblings were fighting like cats and dogs over the remote.
They’ve been fighting like cats and dogs since the project started.
Other Ways to Say: Quarreling fiercely, Bicker intensely, At odds
23. Barking Dog Never Bites
Meaning: Someone who makes loud threats is unlikely to act on them (similar to ‘all bark and no bite’).
In a Sentence:
Don’t worry about his yelling; a barking dog never bites.
She’s loud, but a barking dog never bites.
Other Ways to Say: Empty threats, All talk, Harmless bluster
24. Dogsbody
Meaning: A person who does menial or unimportant tasks.
In a Sentence:
He started as a dogsbody, running errands for the office.
She felt like a dogsbody doing all the grunt work.
Other Ways to Say: Gofer, Lackey, Menial worker, Underling
25. Dog in the Manger
Meaning: Someone who prevents others from using something they don’t need themselves.
In a Sentence:
He’s like a dog in the manger, holding onto equipment he doesn’t use.
Don’t be a dog in the manger; share the resources.
Other Ways to Say: Selfish hoarder, Stingy, Uncooperative
26. Top Dog
Meaning: The most important or dominant person in a group.
In a Sentence:
She’s the top dog in the marketing department.
He fought hard to become the top dog in the company.
Other Ways to Say: Leader, Boss, Head honcho, Alpha
27. Dog’s Life
Meaning: A miserable, difficult, or unpleasant life.
In a Sentence:
Working two jobs feels like a dog’s life.
He’s been living a dog’s life since the divorce.
Other Ways to Say: Hard life, Miserable existence, Tough times
28. Puppy Love
Meaning: Romantic feelings, often fleeting, are typically associated with young people.
In a Sentence:
Their teenage romance is just puppy love.
She giggled about her puppy love for the new boy in class.
Other Ways to Say: Young love, Infatuation, Crush, Teenage romance
29. Call Off the Dogs
Meaning: To stop attacking, criticizing, or pursuing someone.
In a Sentence:
Call off the dogs; he’s already apologized.
The boss finally called off the dogs after the issue was resolved.
Other Ways to Say: Back off, Ease up, Stop the attack
30. Dog’s Breakfast
Meaning: A messy or chaotic situation (similar to ‘a dog’s dinner’).
In a Sentence:
The event was a dog’s breakfast, with no organization.
His essay was a dog’s breakfast, full of errors.
Other Ways to Say: Mess, Chaos, Shambles, Disaster
31. In the Doghouse
Meaning: In trouble or disfavor with someone.
In a Sentence:
He’s in the doghouse for forgetting her birthday.
I’m in the doghouse with my boss for missing the deadline.
Other Ways to Say: In trouble, Out of favor, On bad terms
32. Shaggy Dog Story
Meaning: A long, drawn-out story with an anticlimactic or pointless ending.
In a Sentence:
His joke turned into a shaggy dog story that bored everyone.
She told a shaggy dog story that went nowhere.
Other Ways to Say: Pointless tale, Rambling story, Anticlimactic narrative
33. Dogged Determination
Meaning: Persistent and stubborn effort to achieve a goal.
In a Sentence:
Her dogged determination helped her finish the marathon.
He succeeded through dogged determination despite the odds.
Other Ways to Say: Tenacity, Persistence, Relentless effort
34. Dog Whistle
Meaning: A subtle message or signal understood only by a specific group.
In a Sentence:
The politician’s speech included a dog whistle for his supporters.
Her comment was a dog whistle to the team’s insiders.
Other Ways to Say: Coded message, Subtle signal, Hidden meaning
35. Run with the Big Dogs
Meaning: To compete with or keep up with the most successful or powerful.
In a Sentence:
If you want to succeed here, you’ve got to run with the big dogs.
She’s young but already running with the big dogs in the industry.
Other Ways to Say: Compete with the best, Keep up with leaders, Play with the pros
Related Post: 50 Idioms About Life That Say It All
36. Dog’s Chance
Meaning: A very slim or unlikely chance of success.
In a Sentence:
He doesn’t have a dog’s chance of winning that competition.
There’s a dog’s chance it’ll rain this afternoon.
Other Ways to Say: Slim chance, Long shot, Unlikely possibility
37. Throw to the Dogs
Meaning: To abandon or sacrifice someone to save oneself or others.
In a Sentence:
They threw him to the dogs to avoid blame for the mistake.
She felt thrown to the dogs when her team didn’t support her.
Other Ways to Say: Sacrifice, Abandon, Betray, Leave to fend for oneself
38. Dog on a Leash
Meaning: Someone who is controlled or restricted by another person or situation.
In a Sentence:
He’s like a dog on a leash, always doing what his boss says.
She felt like a dog on a leash under her strict parents.
Other Ways to Say: Controlled, Restricted, Under someone’s thumb
39. Lead Dog
Meaning: The person or thing in charge or leading the way.
In a Sentence:
As the lead dog, she sets the pace for the team.
He’s the lead dog in this project, making all the decisions.
Other Ways to Say: Leader, Front-runner, Head, Trailblazer
40. Dog It
Meaning: To perform poorly or lazily, often intentionally.
In a Sentence:
He was dogging it during practice, not giving his full effort.
She dogged it on the last lap and lost the race.
Other Ways to Say: Slack off, Underperform, Take it easy
41. Dog’s Age
Meaning: A very long time.
In a Sentence:
I haven’t seen her in a dog’s age!
It’s been a dog’s age since we last went camping.
Other Ways to Say: Forever, Ages, A long time
42. Hot Dog
Meaning: Someone who shows off or performs with flair, often in sports.
In a Sentence:
He’s such a hot dog, always doing tricks on the skateboard.
She’s a hot dog on the dance floor, stealing the show.
Other Ways to Say: Show-off, Flamboyant performer, Attention-seeker
43. Dog’s Bollocks
Meaning: (British English, informal, vulgar) Something considered the best or outstanding.
In a Sentence:
That new car is the dog’s bollocks, with all its features.
He thinks his band is the dog’s bollocks.
Other Ways to Say: The best, Top-notch, Outstanding, Superb
44. Tail Wagging the Dog
Meaning: A situation where a less important part controls the whole.
In a Sentence:
The interns are running the project; it’s the tail wagging the dog.
Her small complaint became the tail wagging the dog in the meeting.
Other Ways to Say: Minor controlling major, Inverted priorities, Upside-down leadership
45. Underdog
Meaning: A person or team expected to lose in a competition.
In a Sentence:
The underdog team pulled off an incredible upset.
He’s always rooting for the underdog in sports.
Other Ways to Say: Long shot, Outsider, Dark horse
46. Dog Paddle
Meaning: A basic swimming technique resembling how a dog swims.
In a Sentence:
She learned to dog paddle before mastering other strokes.
He was dog paddling just to stay afloat.
Other Ways to Say: Basic swim, Simple stroke, Beginner’s swim
47. Dog’s Chance in Hell
Meaning: An extremely slim or no chance of success (stronger than ‘dog’s chance’).
In a Sentence:
They’ve got a dog’s chance in hell of finishing on time.
There’s a dog’s chance in hell he’ll apologize.
Other Ways to Say: No chance, Hopeless, Impossible odds
48. Chase Your Own Tail
Meaning: To engage in pointless or unproductive activity.
In a Sentence:
He’s chasing his own tail trying to fix that old computer.
Stop chasing your own tail and focus on the real issue.
Other Ways to Say: Waste time, Go in circles, Pointless effort
49. Dog in the Fight
Meaning: Having a personal stake or interest in a conflict or issue.
In a Sentence:
I don’t have a dog in this fight, so I’m staying neutral.
She’s got a dog in the fight, so she’s passionate about the debate.
Other Ways to Say: Personal stake, Involvement, Interest in the outcome
50. Bark Worse Than Bite
Meaning: Someone who seems threatening but is actually harmless (similar to ‘all bark and no bite’).
In a Sentence:
His bark is worse than his bite, so don’t take him too seriously.
The dog’s bark is worse than its bite; it’s friendly once you get close.
Other Ways to Say: Harmless, All talk, Empty threats
Exercise to Practice – Idioms about Dogs
- I’ve been working on this report for ten hours straight and I am completely _________________________.
- The last few weeks of the summer, when it’s just too hot to do anything, are known as the _________________________.
- I know you’re upset, but don’t bring up that old argument again. It’s best to _________________________.
- His threat to fire everyone was just a show; he’s all _________________________.
- Don’t try to get a discount from me. You’re _________________________ if you think I can change the price.
- The political debate was a real _________________________, with both sides attacking each other relentlessly.
- She had a terrible flu last week and was _________________________ for days.
- My computer crashed and now the report I was working on for two weeks is a complete _________________________.
- He’s a very cunning and secretive person; a real _________________________.
- The company’s old CEO retired, and a new one came in and completely _________________________.
Answer Key
- dog tired
- dog days of summer
- let sleeping dogs lie
- bark and no bite
- barking up the wrong tree
- dog eat dog world (or fighting like cats and dogs)
- sick as a dog
- dog’s dinner (or dog’s breakfast)
- sly dog
- cleaned house (or swept the house clean)
Conclusion
No more being “in the doghouse” with your vocabulary! By learning these Idioms About Dogs, you’ve gained a versatile set of tools to navigate everything from tricky situations to complex feelings with native-like ease. Start using these memorable phrases today to make your language more natural, expressive, and truly unforgettable in any conversation!
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
