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• dog paddle
  dog paddle

  noun

  a simple swimming stroke mainly used to stay afloat while remaining almost stationary in the water, executed by paddling both arms underwater while kicking the legs, with the body in a crouching position and the head above water.
• dog-paddle
  dog-paddle

  verb (used without object)

  to swim or keep afloat by use of the dog paddle.

dog paddle

¹ American  

noun

1. a simple swimming stroke mainly used to stay afloat while remaining almost stationary in the water, executed by paddling both arms underwater while kicking the legs, with the body in a crouching position and the head above water.

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dog-paddle ² American  

[dawg-pad-l, dog-] / ˈdɔgˌpæd l, ˈdɒg- /

verb (used without object)

dog-paddled, dog-paddling

1. to swim or keep afloat by use of the dog paddle.

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dog paddle British  

noun

1. another name for doggy paddle

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Etymology

Origin of dog paddle¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Origin of dog-paddle²

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

“They can dog paddle, if you will, but any uptick in unemployment or worsening of the economy could drive a pretty significant spike in defaults.”

From Seattle Times • Mar. 24, 2024

Some wear their fatigues inside out, identifying them as Marines who are just learning to swim and flailing the length of the pool in a mix of dog paddle and haphazard overhand stroke.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 8, 2023

An unusual aquatic center inside a suburban Maryland strip mall has five narrow pools and several swimmers of varying abilities, but only one stroke: the dog paddle.

From Washington Post • Mar. 6, 2018

I don’t care if you do the breaststroke, butterfly, crawl or dog paddle.

From New York Times • Dec. 10, 2010

So I slow my dog paddle down and yell up to Diego: “Yo, man! D! I don’t know if I could make it all the way!”

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña

Related Words

• bathe
• crawl
• dive
• float
• glide
• paddle
• submerge
• wade