dog
dog — noun
1. a domesticated four-legged animal that lives with people and is kept for compani
a domesticated four-legged animal that lives with people and is kept for companionship, protection, herding, or helping those with special needs.
Mira takes her dog for a walk in the park every morning before breakfast.
dog as pet: take + dog + for a walk
The family's dog barked loudly when a stranger approached the front gate.
Lucas trained his dog to help him turn lights on and off.
dog as service animal: train + dog + to-infinitive
At the shelter, Charlotte adopted a small brown dog with floppy ears.
Some farmers keep dogs to guard their sheep at night.
dog as working animal: keep dogs + to-guard
- walk the dog
- train a dog
- feed the dog
- dog owner
- dog breed
- guard dog
- service dog
Grammar Patterns
a dog
the dog
dogs
Usage Note
Can be used for any breed or mixed-breed animal; the term refers to both male and female dogs unless specified otherwise.
2. a man who behaves in a cruel, dishonest, or morally bad way.
a man who behaves in a cruel, dishonest, or morally bad way.
The landlord is a real dog — he raised the rent without fixing any of the broken pipes.
informal insult: a real dog
Amihan called her ex-husband a dirty dog after he lied about the money.
collocation: dirty dog
Mert warned everyone that the new manager was a lazy dog who let others do his work.
pattern: [adjective] + dog
Nobody trusted Tanaka after he cheated the team — they all called him a low-down dog.
collocation: low-down dog
- dirty dog
- lazy dog
- low-down dog
- gentleman
a man who is polite and honourable
Grammar Patterns
a dog
that dog
Usage Note
Often preceded by a negative adjective (dirty, lazy, low-down). Strongly negative; use with caution in polite conversation.
Common Mistakes
3. a very offensive term for a person, most often a female, that insults their phys
a very offensive term for a person, most often a female, that insults their physical appearance.
The bully shouted an ugly dog remark at the new student, and the teacher sent him to the office.
offensive register: ugly dog
Caleb's grandmother was hurt when she overheard someone call her an old dog at the market.
Nila's mother was furious when she overheard a neighbour call her a dog behind the apartment wall.
offensive register: call + someone + a dog
Tunde's sister cried for hours after a classmate called her a dog during lunch.
- ugly dog
- old dog
Grammar Patterns
a dog
Usage Note
This is a highly offensive insult, especially when directed at a woman. It condemns the speaker more than the target. Avoid using it entirely.
4. an adult male of certain wild or domestic species, including dogs, foxes, wolves
an adult male of certain wild or domestic species, including dogs, foxes, wolves, and otters.
At the wildlife centre, the zookeeper explained that this fox is a dog and the smaller one is a vixen.
contrast: dog (male fox) vs vixen (female fox)
The dog otter is about a third larger than the female and has a broader head.
Tanvi watched a documentary about wolf packs where the alpha dog led the hunt.
collocation: alpha dog (in animal behaviour context)
When breeding dogs, breeders often choose a healthy dog with a calm temperament as the father.
breeding context: dog = male parent
- alpha dog
- dog fox
- dog otter
Grammar Patterns
a dog
the dog
Usage Note
In the context of domestic dogs, the term 'dog' (male) is contrasted with 'bitch' (female). For foxes, 'dog' contrasts with 'vixen'. For otters, 'dog' contrasts with 'bitch' or 'sow'.
5. an informal, often friendly way of referring to a man, usually with an adjective
an informal, often friendly way of referring to a man, usually with an adjective that describes a quality or situation.
Élise smiled and said, "You old dog, I haven't seen you in years!" when she spotted her former classmate.
informal greeting: you old dog
Hao won two free plane tickets in the raffle, and his friends called him a lucky dog.
collocation: lucky dog
When Ignacio sneaked an extra cookie from the jar, his grandmother winked and called him a sly dog.
collocation: sly dog (playful affection)
The old bartender was a cheerful dog who knew everyone's name and their usual drink.
- old dog
- lucky dog
- sly dog
- jolly dog
Grammar Patterns
a dog
old dog
lucky dog
Usage Note
Almost always occurs with a preceding adjective (lucky, old, jolly, sly, etc.). The tone is friendly or teasing, never insulting. Compare with noun sense 2 (UNPLEASANT MAN) where the adjective is negative.
Common Mistakes
6. something that is poorly made, performs badly, or is of disappointing quality.
something that is poorly made, performs badly, or is of disappointing quality.
Sofia bought a cheap camera online, but it turned out to be a real dog — the photos were all blurry.
pattern: a real dog
That movie was a complete dog; the story made no sense and the acting was terrible.
The used car Christopher bought looked fine but was a total dog — it broke down twice in the first week.
collocation: total dog
Critics called the new phone a dog because its battery lasted only two hours.
pattern: called + noun + a dog
- real dog
- total dog
- complete dog
Grammar Patterns
a dog
that dog
Usage Note
Often preceded by 'real' or 'total' for emphasis. Common in American English for products, films, or vehicles that fail expectations.
It means it is raining very heavily.
We stayed inside because it was raining cats and dogs.
Did you get wet? It was raining cats and dogs all morning.
a dog and pony show
idiomAn event designed to impress people and gain their support or money.
The company's product launch was just a dog and pony show.
Investors saw through the dog and pony show and refused to fund the project.
A situation where people compete fiercely and are willing to harm others to succeed.
In the business world, it's often dog eat dog.
They work in a dog-eat-dog industry where trust is rare.
a dog in the manger
idiomA person who prevents others from enjoying something they themselves do not want or use.
He's a dog in the manger, hoarding resources he never uses.
Why be a dog in the manger? Let others use the equipment.
Something that has been done very badly or is a mess.
The report was a dog's breakfast, full of errors.
She made a dog's dinner of the presentation, confusing everyone.
a dog’s life
idiomAn unhappy life filled with problems or unfair treatment.
The stray dog led a dog's life on the streets.
He complained that his job gave him a dog's life with no rest.
Everyone will have good luck or success at some point in their life.
Don't worry, every dog has its day, and yours will come.
She finally won the award; every dog has its day.
To argue or fight frequently and intensely.
My siblings fight like cat and dog over the TV remote.
The neighbors fight like cat and dog, always shouting at each other.
Once a person has a bad reputation, it is hard to change because others continue to blame or suspect them.
After the scandal, give a dog a bad name, and no one trusts him.
She made one mistake, but give a dog a bad name, and it sticks.
go to the dogs
idiomTo become much worse in quality or condition.
The old neighborhood has gone to the dogs since the factory closed.
If we don't maintain the park, it will go to the dogs.
An alcoholic drink taken to cure a hangover from drinking too much the night before.
He ordered a beer as hair of the dog to feel better.
She swore by a bloody mary as the hair of the dog.
To be personally involved in a situation and have something to gain or lose from the outcome.
I don't have a dog in this fight, so I can be impartial.
The employees have a dog in the fight, so their opinions matter.
To avoid discussing a past issue that could cause trouble if brought up.
We decided to let sleeping dogs lie and not mention the argument.
It's better to let sleeping dogs lie than reopen old wounds.
like a dog
idiomWorking or being treated extremely hard or harshly.
He worked like a dog all week to meet the deadline.
The interns were treated like a dog, with no breaks.
Very determined and refusing to give up on something.
The reporter was like a dog with a bone, chasing the story.
She stuck to the problem like a dog with a bone until she solved it.
To have no chance at all of succeeding.
He doesn't have a dog's chance of winning the race.
Without proper training, she hasn't a dog's chance of getting the job.
(as) sick as a dog
idiomFeeling very ill, often with vomiting.
After eating bad seafood, I was sick as a dog all night.
She felt sick as a dog and had to stay home from school.
A situation where a less important part controls the more important whole.
In that company, the tail is wagging the dog, with interns making decisions.
When a small group dictates policy, it's the tail wagging the dog.
It is very difficult to change someone's long-established habits or methods.
My grandfather refuses to use a smartphone; you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
She tried to learn coding but gave up, saying you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
To allow someone to suffer or be punished unfairly, as if they are worthless.
The company threw the junior staff to the dogs to avoid blame.
He felt his boss threw him to the dogs during the audit.
If someone else can do a task for you, there is no point in doing it yourself.
Why keep a dog and bark yourself? Let the assistant handle it.
He does all the work himself, but why keep a dog and bark yourself?
dog — verb
1. to follow a person or animal very closely, often in a way that feels annoying, t
to follow a person or animal very closely, often in a way that feels annoying, threatening, or persistent.
A stray cat had been dogging Mira's steps all the way home, hoping for food.
pattern: dog someone's steps
The reporter dogged the politician for three days, waiting outside every building he entered.
A police car dogged the suspicious van along the highway for nearly ten kilometres.
passive/active: police car dogged the van
Caleb's little brother dogged him around the house all afternoon, asking to play video games.
The paparazzi dogged the actress every time she tried to go shopping alone.
common subject: paparazzi
- dog someone's steps
- dog someone's heels
Grammar Patterns
dog + someone
Usage Note
Often carries a negative connotation of unwanted attention or harassment. Stronger and more persistent than 'follow'.
Common Mistakes
2. to cause continuous difficulty, worry, or problems for a person, project, or org
to cause continuous difficulty, worry, or problems for a person, project, or organization over a period of time.
Technical problems have dogged the new train system since the day it opened.
abstract subject: technical problems dog + project
A series of injuries dogged the athlete throughout her final season of competition.
The restaurant has been dogged by complaints about slow service for months.
passive: be dogged by [problems]
Doubts about the safety of the building dogged the construction company until they fixed the foundation.
- dogged by problems
- dogged by controversy
- dogged by injuries
Grammar Patterns
dog + someone/something
Usage Note
The subject is typically an abstract problem (rumours, doubts, injuries, technical faults), not a person doing the dogging. Frequently appears in news reporting.
Common Mistakes
dog — adjective
1. relating to dogs or having qualities associated with dogs, such as loyalty or ke
relating to dogs or having qualities associated with dogs, such as loyalty or keen senses.
The dog food aisle at the supermarket has dozens of different brands for every breed.
compound: dog food
Charlotte bought a new dog bed that has a removable cover for easy washing.
The school's dog training programme teaches students how to care for and handle animals.
compound: dog training
Strong dog odour can build up if you do not bathe your pet regularly.
- dog food
- dog breed
- dog owner
- dog bed
- dog training
- dog show
- dog odour
- canine
formal; used in scientific or medical contexts
Grammar Patterns
dog + noun
Usage Note
This sense is attributive only — it appears before a noun (dog food, dog breed, dog owner). It is not used predicatively (*This food is dog).
2. describing something that is not genuine, of poor quality, or not functioning as
describing something that is not genuine, of poor quality, or not functioning as it should.
Tunde's cheap night-market watch was a dog — it stopped ticking after one day.
predicative: turned out to be a dog
Critics called the new tablet a dog because the screen cracked during the very first drop test.
pattern: called + noun + a dog
The so-called designer handbag Mira bought was a total dog — the straps broke the first time she used it.
collocation: total dog
Ari thought he had found a bargain, but the used laptop was a real dog that crashed every ten minutes.
collocation: a real dog
- a real dog
- a total dog
- a complete dog
Grammar Patterns
a dog
a real dog
a total dog
Usage Note
Very informal and not widely used. The 'inferior' sense is typically used predicatively — 'that phone is a real dog' — rather than as an attributive adjective before a noun. Common in American English for products, films, or vehicles that fail expectations. More formal equivalents include 'substandard', 'shoddy', or 'defective'.
dog — adverb
1. used before certain adjectives to mean 'extremely' or 'completely', emphasising
used before certain adjectives to mean 'extremely' or 'completely', emphasising the state described.
After hiking up the mountain for six hours, Hao was dog-tired and could barely stand.
compound: dog-tired (extremely tired)
The children came home dog-hungry after playing football in the park all afternoon.
The vegetables at the local market were dog cheap — a whole bag of tomatoes cost less than a dollar.
adverbial: dog cheap (extremely cheap)
The mountain trail was dog rough, and even experienced hikers struggled to keep their footing.
adverbial: dog rough (extremely rough)
- dog-tired
- dog-hungry
- dog cheap
- dog rough
- completely
neutral; works with many more adjectives
- utterly
formal; strong emphasis
- dead
informal intensifier (dead tired, dead serious)
Grammar Patterns
dog + adjective
Usage Note
Only used in a fixed set of constructions. 'Dog-tired' is the most common compound. 'Dog cheap' and 'dog rough' are colloquial adverbial uses preceding an adjective without a hyphen. Does not behave like a normal adverb — it only works before a small set of adjectives describing negative or intense states.
Common Mistakes
dog — idiom
to avoid talking about a past problem or disagreement so that it does not cause trouble again.
Lucas wanted to ask about the old argument, but Amihan said it was better to let sleeping dogs lie.
The committee decided to let sleeping dogs lie rather than reopen the debate about the budget.
everyone will eventually have a moment of success, happiness, or good fortune, no matter how unlucky they seem now.
Mert kept practising every day, believing that every dog has its day and his chance would come.
The team had lost ten games in a row, but the coach reminded them that every dog has its day.
dog eat dog
idiomdescribing a very competitive situation where people are willing to harm others to succeed.
The real estate business in the city is dog eat dog — agents will do anything to close a deal.
In the dog-eat-dog world of fashion, even close friends can become rivals overnight.
a dog's life
idioma life full of problems, hard work, and unhappiness.
Tanvi felt she was leading a dog's life — working two jobs and still struggling to pay the rent.
The old fisherman said he had lived a dog's life, with nothing but bad luck and rough seas.
rain cats and dogs
idiomto rain very heavily.
The picnic was cancelled because it rained cats and dogs all morning without stopping.
Caleb forgot his umbrella and got soaked when it started raining cats and dogs on his way home.
top dog
idiomthe person who is the most important, powerful, or successful in a group.
After years of hard work, Sofia became the top dog in the company's marketing department.
In the world of smartphones, one brand has been the top dog for nearly a decade.
underdog
idioma person, team, or group that is expected to lose in a competition or against a stronger opponent.
Everyone loves cheering for the underdog when a small team beats the champions.
Hao's boxing coach told him that being the underdog meant he had nothing to lose.
Word family
- doggedadjectiveC1
- doggedlyadverbC1
- doggynounA2
- doglessadjectiveB2
- underdognounB2
- topdognounC1
- dog-likeadjectiveB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Dog is the everyday word for the animal, used in all contexts from casual speech to formal writing. Canine is the scientific or clinical term, common in veterinary contexts ('canine teeth', 'canine influenza') but unnatural in everyday conversation — you would not say 'I walked my canine this morning.' Pooch is an affectionate informal term that implies warmth and familiarity ('The kids love the old pooch next door'). Puppy refers specifically to a young dog under about one year old; calling an adult dog a puppy can sound playful or mistaken. Use 'dog' as the default, 'canine' for technical references, 'pooch' for casual affection, and 'puppy' when age matters.
Etymology
Dog comes from Old English 'docga', a word of unknown origin that replaced the earlier Germanic word 'hund' (which survives in modern English as 'hound'). The shift from 'hund' to 'dog' happened in the early Middle Ages and is unique to English — related languages like German (Hund), Dutch (hond), and Swedish (hund) all kept the older root. The verb senses (to follow closely, to cause trouble) developed from the idea of a dog pursuing its target, appearing in the 1500s. The insult and informal uses (dirty dog, lucky dog) emerged in the 1800s as slang.