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Synonyms

dogsbody

American  
[dawgz-bod-ee, dogz-] / ˈdɔgzˌbɒd i, ˈdɒgz- /

noun

Chiefly British Slang.

plural

dogsbodies
  1. a menial worker; drudge.


dogsbody British  
/ ˈdɒɡzˌbɒdɪ /

noun

  1. informal a person who carries out menial tasks for others; drudge

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (intr) to act as a dogsbody

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of dogsbody

First recorded in 1810–20; originally a junior naval officer, earlier a sailor's term for soaked sea biscuits or pease pudding

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Aiding everyone is Lisa Kwak as The Mute, a sort of onstage stagehand and dogsbody who distributes props as needed, moves set pieces and generally keeps the show moving.

From Seattle Times

Shelley is forbearance personified but she’s tired of being taken by Mira “for a dogsbody, a beta fish, a bridesmaid, a ride-along.”

From New York Times

He said: "He started out as a dogsbody at the Croydon Times and then just built this empire of 220 papers across the country."

From BBC

He had dreamed of going on radio, and on a tip from a New York announcer moved to Miami, where he got a job as a dogsbody at a small station, WHAR.

From The Guardian

I was 21, and worked at French Vogue as a general dogsbody and, just like Emily, my French boss despaired of me.

From The Guardian