dog

[ dawg, dog ]

/ dɔg, dɒg /

noun

a domesticated canid, Canis familiaris, bred in many varieties.

any carnivore of the dog family Canidae, having prominent canine teeth and, in the wild state, a long and slender muzzle, a deep-chested muscular body, a bushy tail, and large, erect ears.Compare canid.

the male of such an animal.

any of various animals resembling a dog.

a despicable man or youth.

Informal. a fellow in general: a lucky dog.

dogs, Slang. feet.

Slang.

something worthless or of extremely poor quality: That used car you bought is a dog.
an utter failure; flop: Critics say his new play is a dog.

Slang. an ugly, boring, or crude person.

Slang. hot dog.

(initial capital letter) Astronomy. either of two constellations, Canis Major or Canis Minor.

Machinery.

any of various mechanical devices, as for gripping or holding something.
a projection on a moving part for moving steadily or for tripping another part with which it engages.

Also called gripper, nipper. Metalworking. a device on a drawbench for drawing the work through the die.

a cramp binding together two timbers.

an iron bar driven into a stone or timber to provide a means of lifting it.

an andiron; firedog.

Meteorology. a sundog or fogdog.

a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter D.

verb (used with object), dogged, dog·ging.

to follow or track like a dog, especially with hostile intent; hound.

to drive or chase with a dog or dogs.

Machinery. to fasten with dogs.

Origin of dog

before 1050; Middle English dogge, Old English docga

Related formsdog·less, adjectivedog·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for let sleeping dogs lie

dog

/ (dɒɡ) /

noun

a domesticated canine mammal, Canis familiaris, occurring in many breeds that show a great variety in size and form
(as modifier)dog biscuit

any other carnivore of the family Canidae, such as the dingo and coyote
(as modifier)the dog family Related adjective: canine

the male of animals of the dog family
(as modifier)a dog fox

(modifier)

spurious, inferior, or uselessdog Latin
(in combination)dogberry

a mechanical device for gripping or holding, esp one of the axial slots by which gear wheels or shafts are engaged to transmit torque

informal a fellow; chapyou lucky dog

informal a man or boy regarded as unpleasant, contemptible, or wretched

US informal a male friend: used as a term of address

slang an unattractive or boring girl or woman

US and Canadian informal something unsatisfactory or inferior

short for firedog

any of various atmospheric phenomenaSee fogdog, seadog, sundog

a dog's chance no chance at all

a dog's dinner or a dog's breakfast informal something that is messy or bungled

a dog's life a wretched existence

dog eat dog ruthless competition or self-interest

like a dog's dinner informal dressed smartly or ostentatiously

put on the dog US and Canadian informal to behave or dress in an ostentatious or showy manner

verb dogs, dogging or dogged (tr)

to pursue or follow after like a dog

to trouble; plagueto be dogged by ill health

to chase with a dog or dogs

to grip, hold, or secure by a mechanical device

adverb

(usually in combination) thoroughly; utterlydog-tired

Word Origin for dog

Old English docga, of obscure origin

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

Word Origin and History for let sleeping dogs lie

dog

Old English docga, a late, rare word used of a powerful breed of canine. It forced out Old English hund (the general Germanic and Indo-European word; see canine) by 16c. and subsequently was picked up in many continental languages (e.g. French dogue (16c.), Danish dogge), but the origin remains one of the great mysteries of English etymology.

Many expressions -- a dog's life (c.1600), go to the dogs (1610s), etc. -- reflect earlier hard use of the animals as hunting accessories, not pampered pets. In ancient times, "the dog" was the worst throw in dice (attested in Greek, Latin, and Sanskrit, where the word for "the lucky player" was literally "the dog-killer"), which plausibly explains the Greek word for "danger," kindynas, which appears to be "play the dog."

Slang meaning "ugly woman" is from 1930s; that of "sexually aggressive man" is from 1950s. Adjectival phrase dog-eat-dog attested by 1850s. Dog tag is from 1918. To dog-ear a book is from 1650s; dog-eared in extended sense of "worn, unkempt" is from 1894.

Notwithstanding, as a dog hath a day, so may I perchance have time to declare it in deeds. [Princess Elizabeth, 1550]

It is ill wakyng of a sleapyng dogge. [Heywood, 1562]

Phrase put on the dog "get dressed up" (1934) may look back to the stiff stand-up shirt collars that in the 1890s were the height of male fashion (and were known as dog-collars at least from 1883), with reference to collars worn by dogs. The common Spanish word for "dog," perro, also is a mystery word of unknown origin, perhaps from Iberian. A group of Slavic "dog" words (Old Church Slavonic pisu, Polish pies, Serbo-Croatian pas) likewise are of unknown origin.

dog

"to track like a dog," 1510s, see dog (n.). Related: Dogged; dogging.

Culture definitions for let sleeping dogs lie

Let sleeping dogs lie

Do not stir up a problem that has lain quiet for some time.

Idioms and Phrases with let sleeping dogs lie

let sleeping dogs lie

Allow inactive problems to remain so, as in Jane knew she should report the accident but decided to let sleeping dogs lie. This injunction to avoid stirring up trouble was already a proverb in the 13th century. It alludes to waking up a fierce watchdog and has been stated in English since the late 1300s.

dog

In addition to the idioms beginning with dog

dog days
dog eat dog
dog in the manger
dog it

also see:

coon's (dog's) age
every dog has its day
go to pot (the dogs)
hair of the dog
hot dog
in the doghouse
let sleeping dogs lie
put on the dog
rain cats and dogs
see a man about a dog
shaggy dog story
sick as a dog
tail wagging the dog
teach an old dog new tricks
throw to the wolves (dogs)
top banana (dog)

dog

noun

verb (used with object), dogged, dog·ging.

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of dog

dog

noun

verb dogs, dogging or dogged (tr)

adverb

Word Origin for dog

dog

dog

Let sleeping dogs lie

let sleeping dogs lie

dog