{"id":6263,"date":"2017-10-12T11:34:36","date_gmt":"2017-10-12T15:34:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/?p=6263"},"modified":"2017-10-12T11:34:36","modified_gmt":"2017-10-12T15:34:36","slug":"english-phrases-and-idioms-about-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/english-phrases-and-idioms-about-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"English Phrases and Idioms About Dogs"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’ve already learned about cats<\/a>, so now it’s time for the dogs. People say that dogs are man’s best friend. Let’s learn about how our furry friends made it into the language with these English phrases and idioms about dogs.<\/p>\n

\"English

My dog – Louie!<\/p><\/div>\n

sick as a dog<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: to be very sick<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “You’d better go home. You look sick as a dog<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

That dog won\u2019t hunt.<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: used to describe an idea that won’t work; predicting failure<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “Maybe you can just ask your boss for the day off.”<\/p>\n

“No way. He’s really strict. That dog won’t<\/strong> hunt.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

a doggy bag<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: a bag with food from home or a restaurant<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “Do you want to grab lunch?”<\/p>\n

“No, I’m OK. I brought a doggy bag<\/strong> with some leftovers.”<\/p>\n

My dogs are barking.<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: my feet hurt<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “Wow, my dogs are barking<\/strong>! I just walked 5 miles!”<\/p>\n

in the doghouse<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: to be in trouble; usually a man with his wife or children with their parents<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “He’s in the dog house<\/strong> because he didn’t do his homework.”<\/p>\n

Dog days of summer.<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: the hottest time of summer<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “It’s so hot outside!”<\/p>\n

“Yeah… these really are the dog days of summer<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

see a man about a dog<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: something you say when you’re doing something you don’t want people to know about;\u00a0a colloquialism meaning “go to the bathroom”<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “Are you leaving? You just got here!”<\/p>\n

“No… just have to see a man about a dog<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

https:\/\/youtu.be\/ie46ArYzEZg<\/a><\/p>\n

Learn more about this idiom in this video.<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a dog-eat-dog world.<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: there is fierce competition; every man for himself; survival of the fittest<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “It’s a dog-eat-dog world<\/strong> at this company. If you don’t succeed, someone else will replace you.”<\/p>\n

like a dog with two tails<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: to be very happy<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “Look at the kids playing with their new toys! They’re just like a dog with two tails.<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

Why keep a dog when you can bark yourself?<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: don’t do something you paid someone else to do<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “Why are you painting the wall? You already paid a painter! Why keep a dog when you can bark yourself<\/strong>?”<\/p>\n

Every dog has its day.<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: everyone gets lucky sometimes<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “Did you hear that Tom finally got a promotion?”<\/p>\n

“Yeah, I did. Every dog has its day<\/strong>!”<\/p>\n

You can\u2019t teach an old dog new tricks.<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: it’s hard for old people to learn new things<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “Grandma, why aren’t you on Facebook?”<\/p>\n

“Me? On Facebook?! You know you can’t teach an old dog new tricks<\/strong>!”<\/p>\n