Dog Metaphors

Dogs not only enrich our lives, but they enrich the language as well. We would not want to do without dog figures of speech. Here’s my list, I’m sure I’ve forgotten some.

Dog tired—could sleep the day away
Gone to the dogs—not a good place to go
Bird dog—to move in on someone else’s girl friend or boy friend
Yellowdog—who some democrats would rather vote for than a republican
Bluedog—democrat in name only
Dog fight—a one-on-one battle with no rules
To dog it—not even try
Can’t teach an old dog new tricks—age has its privileges
Dog leg—really crooked
Dog eared—really ragged
As thick as fleas on a coon dog—a lot of something
You’re dog meat—unpleasant threat putting someone low on the food chain
Tail wags the dog—priorities skewed
Dog breath—unpleasant respiration odors
Lucky dog—the fates smile lovingly on you (and you probably don't deserve it)
Dog eat dog world—where the rules of civilization don’t apply
Top dog—who rules in such a world
Junk yard dog—someone really mean
Lap dog—a public figure that is easily persuaded by another
Dirty dog—a step above being a dirty rat
That dog don’t hunt—you’ve given a poor excuse or reason
Sick as a dog—to empty the contents of one’s upper digestive tract
Hair of the dog that bit you--a morning drink after a night of debauchery
I don’t have a dog in that fight—I don’t care one way or the other
Working like a dog— Any dogs I’ve ever seen working—hunting, herding, performing, digging, guarding, sniffing, pulling a sled—were very happy.

So let’s say “Working like a dog” means doing the work you were born to do and having a great time.

Comments

[ed]

hahaha good list, good for dogs

[Laura]

As far as I can tell you got them all. That's more than I had thought there were.

[Tracey]

Nice list, it's amazing to think how much dogs have infiltrated our language.

[I was Trailer Trash when Trailer Trash wasn't Cool]

Sick as a dog ... that one fits me this week! ** cough cough **

[Faith]

I do believe you got them all, this is an awesome list. :D

[Karen Shanley]

Loved this. Great fun!

[Denny]

Jan, this is a keeper! A+

[jillbryant]

I love this but most of all I love the dog pic at the top!!! Cuu-uuute.

[bunny]

This is a good list! See you soon, Grandma!

[Alec MacLeod]

if you are interested in a longer list of such terms you might want to take a look at The Canine in Conversation: Dogs in Metaphor and Idiom, Illustrated: www.metaphordogs.org
Alec