Dog Idioms and Sayings | List of 35+ Interesting Idioms Related to Dog in English

Dog Idioms and Sayings: Our four-legged best buddies are our dogs. It’s no surprise how there are so many dog-related idioms and expressions in the English language. For thousands of years, dogs have been the best pal to humans. Initially, as working animals, they slowly transformed into family protectors and pets.

Here we have compiled a list of the most used dog-related idioms and phrases.

Most Commonly Referred Dog Sayings And Expressions

Gone to the Dogs

Meaning: This expression is used to express how absolutely awful a scenario is.
Example: The game in the second half has gone to the dogs.

Done up Like a Dog’s Dinner

Meaning: A phrase used to characterize someone who shows up to be overdressed. Oftentimes, the attire is overbearingly ornate or absurd for the setting.
Example: It was a simple lunch, and Neeta turned up like a done-up like a dog’s dinner- absolutely hilarious.

Be Like a Dog With a Bone

Meaning: When a person gets solely hooked on a subject, this term is used.
Example: We understand you loved the movie, but please stop acting like a dog with a bone.

Barking up the Wrong Tree

Meaning: Used to describe when an individual indulges in a heated argument with the inappropriate individual.
Example: All this while I was barking up the wrong tree, he doesn’t seem to understand the issue at stake.

You can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

Meaning: It’s said to indicate that attempting to teach somebody new techniques or changing their behavior patterns or personality is especially challenging.
Example: You cannot teach her to be polite; You can’t teach an old dog new tricks; it is a futile effort.

His Bark is Worse than his Bite

Meaning: To explain a situation when someone leaves you feeling intimidated yet never actually hurts you.
Example: The captain kept on threatening them to win; everyone knows his bark is worse than his bite.

Every Dog has its Day

Meaning: Everybody gets extremely fortunate occasionally.
Example: He scored the goal today; every Dog has its day.

As Sick as a Dog

Meaning: It is commonly used to describe someone who is physically extremely ill. It might also indicate that you are frustrated with a type of scenario.
Example: Please stop pestering me with this; I am sick as a tired with all your nagging. She did not turn up for work today; she is sick as a dog.

It’s a Dog Life

Meaning: A difficult and complicated existence
Example: With the virus hovering over our heads, it’s a dog’s life every day.

Tail Wagging the Dog

Meaning: A term that means just a rather small element is in charge of all aspects thing. It can refer to a situation in which a newly hired employee is immediately administering the organization as if he possessed it.
Example: Although we felt that Nita was the one making the decisions, it was actually a tail-wagging the dog situation; her manager was giving the instructions.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Meaning: Do not introduce up a subject matter that might spark controversy.
Example: Please do not bring up the past issues and create more misunderstandings; let sleeping dogs lie.

In the Doghouse

Meaning: Being in difficulty with someone as a consequence of one’s mistakes made or wrongdoing.
Example: He has completely gone into the doghouse after taking a loan from the bank and being unable to repay it.

As Mean as a Junkyard Dog

Meaning: An idiom implying that someone is downright harsh. It may also be used to describe someone who is cruel or overly aggressive.
Example: The topper of our class is as mean as a junkyard dog.

Like a Dog with Two Tails

Meaning: When someone is overjoyed.
Example: The child behaved like a dog with two tails after his mother gave him ice cream.

Dog Idioms

Better the Head of a Dog Than the Tail of a Lion

Meaning: It is desirable to be the chief of a modest or low-ranking organization than to be a follower in a bigger or perhaps more renowned one.
Example: I left the job and opened my own business; better the Head of a Dog Than the Tail of a Lion.

A Dog’s Breakfast

Meaning: To denote that a process has been done to questionable quality. To make reference out that someone is inadequately dressed and looks utterly messy.
Example: This meeting is very important for the company, please do not come dressed like a dog’s breakfast.

Raining Cats and Dogs

Meaning: Raining extremely heavily without any signs of stopping.
Example: It was sunny the entire time, but the moment I stepped out of my house, it started raining cats and dogs.

Fighting like Cats and Dogs

Meaning: Constantly and consistently fighting with each other
Example: I really do not understand the siblings; fighting like cats and dogs the whole time.

A Shaggy Dog Story!

Meaning: An expression pertaining to a narrative that can be interesting and amusing but generally ends up being embarrassingly extended. When someone tells a joke with a lame or hasty conclusion, this phrase is widely applied.
Example: The movie plot was building well, but after the interval, it turned out to be a shaggy dog story!

Puppy dog eyes

Meaning: A face look that communicates a gullible or simplistic child’s innocence or purity.
Example: He thought he would be able to get away from his mischief if he put up puppy dog eyes.

Puppy Love

Meaning: Adolescents are connected with an extremely intense but transient romantic relationship.
Example: These days, youth get very easily attached to puppy love.

Bought a Pup

Meaning: A term used to characterize someone who has been duped.
Example: The online picture of the dress looked amazing, but when she received it, it clearly showed that she bought a pup.

See a Man about a Dog

Meaning: Not stating where you’re heading when you leave.
Example: She just left all of a sudden, a complete see a man about a dog situation; I was left speechless.

Dogs are Man’s Best Friends

Meaning: One of the most commonly used phrases which need no explanation. It means that they are the most loyal animals.
Example: No matter what situation you are in, a dog will never leave you. Dogs are man’s best friend.

Hot Dogging

Meaning: To show in front of a crowd, to brag about oneself, and to enjoy oneself around others.
Example: No matter how small the gathering is, he always has to speak about the same old achievements of his, always finding chances for hot dogging.

Dog Days

Meaning: An phrase referring to a phase of warm, humid climates during which we actually feel tired and lethargic and unmotivated or otherwise unable to push ourselves.
Example: Today has been so unproductive, just lying down and wasting time like one of the dog days.

A Dog and Pony Show

Meaning: To put up a spectacular demonstration in the hopes of obtaining public acceptance for a product or service.
Example: The shampoo actually leaves your hair frizzy, but the dog and pony show revolving around it escalated its sales graph.

Run With the Big Dogs

Meaning: To assert that you are competent in competing at the highest level. You’ve reached the pinnacle of your chosen profession.
Example: Sam ramped up her coding skills and now is in the run with the big dogs, having landed the top position in the college placements.

That Dog Won’t Hunt

Meaning: That’s not going to be working, so forget it.
Example: It was just a try, that Dog wouldn’t hunt.

Underdog

Meaning: The one who is less competent or has a relatively low likelihood of success
Example: We believed she was the underdog all along, yet she took first place.

Dog’s Chance

Meaning: There’s a minuscule chance.
Example: There is a dog’s chance of passing this semester.

Work like a Dog

Meaning: Work extremely hard and diligently.
Example: We barely have two weeks till the exam, so we’ll have to work like dogs if we want to pass.

Dog Eat Dog

Meaning: Competition that is utterly ruthless or brutal.
Example: It’s a tough dog-eat-dog situation with career opportunities dwindling by the day.

Dog-eared

Meaning: To suggest that something is a little old and worn out or has seen a lot of use.
Example: The garments are absolutely dog-eared after they have been worn on a frequent basis.

Dogs of War

Meaning: Refers to a pack of hunting hounds chasing their target with zeal.
Example: Both sides unleashed their most deadly dogs of war in the desperate hope of conquering the bloody battle.

Clean as a Hound’s Tooth

Meaning: To describe anything that is immaculately clean. It may also refer to someone who has a good reputation and is honest and trustworthy.
Example: I’ve never heard of him collecting bribes or doing something immoral and unethical, and he has a spotless reputation- clean as a hound’s tooth.