50 Idioms for Dogs With Meanings & Sentences
Idioms for Dogs
1. Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: Avoid interfering in a situation that is currently stable.
In a Sentence: I wanted to ask about the argument, but I decided to let sleeping dogs lie.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t stir the pot, leave it be.
2. Dog-eat-dog world
Meaning: A competitive and ruthless environment where people look out for themselves.
In a Sentence: The business world can be a dog-eat-dog world, so you have to work hard to succeed.
Other Ways to Say: Cutthroat competition, survival of the fittest.
3. Work like a dog
Meaning: To work very hard.
In a Sentence: He worked like a dog all week to finish the project on time.
Other Ways to Say: Work tirelessly, put in long hours.
4. Every dog has its day
Meaning: Everyone will have success or good fortune at some point.
In a Sentence: Don’t worry—you’ll win eventually; every dog has its day.
Other Ways to Say: Your time will come, be patient.
5. Dog tired
Meaning: Extremely exhausted.
In a Sentence: After playing outside all day, the kids were dog tired and went straight to bed.
Other Ways to Say: Bone tired, worn out.
6. Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: Pursuing a mistaken or misguided course of action.
In a Sentence: If you think I caused the problem, you’re barking up the wrong tree.
Other Ways to Say: Mistaken, off track.
7. Sick as a dog
Meaning: Very ill.
In a Sentence: I was sick as a dog last week with the flu.
Other Ways to Say: Seriously sick, down with a bug.
8. Go to the dogs
Meaning: To deteriorate or go downhill.
In a Sentence: Ever since the new manager took over, the place has gone to the dogs.
Other Ways to Say: Decline, fall apart.
9. Hair of the dog
Meaning: Drinking alcohol to relieve a hangover.
In a Sentence: He had a beer in the morning—just the hair of the dog, he said.
Other Ways to Say: Hangover cure, drink to fix a drink.
10. Top dog
Meaning: The person in charge or the best at something.
In a Sentence: After the promotion, she became the top dog in the department.
Other Ways to Say: Boss, leader.
11. Dog in the manger
Meaning: Someone who doesn’t let others use or enjoy something, even if they don’t need it themselves.
In a Sentence: He never plays with those toys, but won’t let anyone else touch them—what a dog in the manger.
Other Ways to Say: Selfish, possessive.
12. Raining cats and dogs
Meaning: Raining very heavily.
In a Sentence: We had to cancel the picnic because it was raining cats and dogs.
Other Ways to Say: Pouring rain, heavy downpour.
13. Tail wagging the dog
Meaning: A small part controlling the whole.
In a Sentence: It’s like the tail wagging the dog when a minor issue controls the entire process.
Other Ways to Say: Upside-down control, reversed roles.
14. Dog days
Meaning: The hottest days of summer.
In a Sentence: During the dog days of summer, we stayed indoors to keep cool.
Other Ways to Say: Peak summer, scorching days.
15. Like a dog with a bone
Meaning: Very persistent or determined.
In a Sentence: She’s like a dog with a bone when it comes to getting justice.
Other Ways to Say: Relentless, won’t give up.
16. Bark is worse than bite
Meaning: Someone seems more aggressive than they really are.
In a Sentence: Don’t worry about the boss—his bark is worse than his bite.
Other Ways to Say: All talk, not dangerous.
17. Throw someone to the dogs
Meaning: To abandon someone to a difficult situation.
In a Sentence: They threw the intern to the dogs when the presentation went badly.
Other Ways to Say: Leave out to dry, sacrifice.
18. Dog and pony show
Meaning: A flashy presentation or event meant to impress.
In a Sentence: The launch event was just a dog and pony show for the investors.
Other Ways to Say: Glitzy display, performance.
19. Die like a dog
Meaning: To die in a disgraceful or unpleasant way.
In a Sentence: The villain in the movie died like a dog.
Other Ways to Say: End badly, go out in shame.
20. Lead a dog’s life
Meaning: To live a miserable or difficult life.
In a Sentence: He leads a dog’s life working two jobs and barely getting by.
Other Ways to Say: Struggle daily, harsh lifestyle.
21. Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: Don’t stir up trouble or bring up old conflicts.
In a Sentence: Just let sleeping dogs lie — bringing it up again will only cause more drama.
Other Ways to Say: Leave well enough alone, don’t poke the bear.
22. Work like a dog
Meaning: To work extremely hard.
In a Sentence: She worked like a dog to get the project done on time.
Other Ways to Say: Work tirelessly, slave away.
23. A dog’s breakfast
Meaning: A complete mess or disaster.
In a Sentence: His attempt to fix the car turned into a dog’s breakfast.
Other Ways to Say: A mess, a disaster, a shambles.
24. Dog’s life
Meaning: A life full of hardships or misery.
In a Sentence: Before he got the promotion, he lived a real dog’s life.
Other Ways to Say: Tough life, hard life.
25. Top dog
Meaning: The most important or powerful person.
In a Sentence: After years of hard work, he’s finally the top dog in the company.
Other Ways to Say: Boss, big shot, head honcho.
26. Dog in the manger
Meaning: Someone who doesn’t want others to enjoy something they themselves don’t need.
In a Sentence: He’s like a dog in the manger — not using the space but won’t let anyone else have it.
Other Ways to Say: Selfish, possessive.
27. Dogged determination
Meaning: Persistent and tenacious effort.
In a Sentence: Her dogged determination helped her overcome all the challenges.
Other Ways to Say: Grit, perseverance, never-give-up attitude.
28. Put on the dog
Meaning: To dress or act in a showy way.
In a Sentence: They really put on the dog for the awards ceremony.
Other Ways to Say: Dress up, show off.
29. Call off the dogs
Meaning: To stop attacking or criticizing.
In a Sentence: Once he apologized, the manager called off the dogs.
Other Ways to Say: Back off, ease up.
30. Every dog has its day
Meaning: Everyone gets a chance eventually.
In a Sentence: Don’t worry, your time will come — every dog has its day.
Other Ways to Say: Your time will come, be patient.
31. Dog-whistle politics
Meaning: Political messages targeting a specific group without others noticing.
In a Sentence: That comment was a classic example of dog-whistle politics.
Other Ways to Say: Subtle messaging, coded language.
32. Hang with the big dogs
Meaning: To compete or associate with powerful or successful people.
In a Sentence: If you want to succeed in this industry, you’ve got to hang with the big dogs.
Other Ways to Say: Be in the big leagues, play with the pros.
33. Bark worse than bite
Meaning: Someone who seems aggressive but is not really harmful.
In a Sentence: Don’t be scared — her bark is worse than her bite.
Other Ways to Say: All talk, harmless.
34. Go to the dogs
Meaning: Deteriorate or become worse.
In a Sentence: This neighborhood has really gone to the dogs.
Other Ways to Say: Decline, fall apart, deteriorate.
35. If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas
Meaning: Associating with bad people brings consequences.
In a Sentence: He should’ve known — if you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.
Other Ways to Say: Bad company corrupts, choose your friends wisely.
36. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks
Meaning: It’s hard to change someone’s habits.
In a Sentence: Grandpa won’t try online banking — you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
Other Ways to Say: Old habits die hard, set in their ways.
37. Run with the big dogs
Meaning: To compete with the best.
In a Sentence: Now that she’s joined the national team, she’s running with the big dogs.
Other Ways to Say: Compete with the elite, play with the pros.
38. Tail wagging the dog
Meaning: A small part controlling the whole.
In a Sentence: In this case, it’s the tail wagging the dog — the assistant is making all the decisions.
Other Ways to Say: Reversed roles, control imbalance.
39. Dogged by bad luck
Meaning: Constantly followed by misfortune.
In a Sentence: He’s been dogged by bad luck ever since the accident.
Other Ways to Say: Plagued by misfortune, unlucky.
40. Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: Accusing the wrong person or pursuing the wrong course.
In a Sentence: If you think I did it, you’re barking up the wrong tree.
Other Ways to Say: Mistaken, misdirected.
41. Dog-pile
Meaning: A group all jumping on one person or object.
In a Sentence: After the game-winning goal, the team formed a dog-pile on the field.
Other Ways to Say: Group celebration, pile-on.
42. Hair of the dog
Meaning: Alcohol taken to relieve hangover symptoms.
In a Sentence: He had a shot of whiskey — hair of the dog, he called it.
Other Ways to Say: Hangover remedy, cure.
43. Raining cats and dogs
Meaning: Raining very heavily.
In a Sentence: We had to cancel the picnic because it was raining cats and dogs.
Other Ways to Say: Pouring, downpour.
44. Doggy bag
Meaning: A container to take home leftover food.
In a Sentence: I couldn’t finish the steak, so I asked for a doggy bag.
Other Ways to Say: Take-out box, leftovers bag.
45. Shaggy dog story
Meaning: A long, rambling story with a silly or pointless ending.
In a Sentence: He told another one of his classic shaggy dog stories at dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Rambling tale, pointless story.
46. Barking mad
Meaning: Completely crazy.
In a Sentence: She must be barking mad to go swimming in this weather.
Other Ways to Say: Nuts, insane, out of her mind.
47. The underdog
Meaning: The weaker or less likely to win in a competition.
In a Sentence: Everyone rooted for the underdog during the final match.
Other Ways to Say: Long shot, dark horse.
48. Fight like cats and dogs
Meaning: To argue or fight constantly.
In a Sentence: Those two siblings fight like cats and dogs.
Other Ways to Say: Constantly bicker, always argue.
49. Like a dog with a bone
Meaning: Very persistent and not willing to give up.
In a Sentence: She’s like a dog with a bone when it comes to solving a mystery.
Other Ways to Say: Relentless, determined.
50. The dog days of summer
Meaning: The hottest, most stagnant time of summer.
In a Sentence: We spent the dog days of summer swimming and drinking lemonade.
Other Ways to Say: Peak summer, hottest days.
