put on the dog

Cultural  

1. To make a show of wealth or elegance: “The annual ball gave everyone a chance to dress up and put on the dog.”

---

put on the dog Idioms  

1. Also, put on the ritz. Behave in an elegant, extravagant manner, as in We'll have to put on the dog when our daughter's in-laws visit, or They really put on the ritz for the wedding reception. The allusion in the first of these slangy terms, first recorded in 1865, is unclear, although it has been suggested that the newly rich displayed their wealth by keeping pampered lapdogs. The second term, from the 1920s, alludes to the large, luxurious hotels founded by and named for César Ritz (1850–1918), which still exist in Paris, London, and many other major cities.

---

Example Sentences

"If a dog has a serious problem with de-icers, the owner should consider buying booties to put on the dog's feet for protection."

From Salon

"I’m basically a broker for them. Some of them want some training done. Maybe they want an odor put on the dog in terms of narcotics, explosives, human remains. Some people want a fully trained dog. And there are departments that want something in-between those two kinds of extremes."

From Fox News

The excellent Ms. Rogers returns as Harry’s frowzy helpmeet, a woman narcotized by monotony, who can still put on the dog for a handsome stranger.

From New York Times

Many, of course, have tried to put on the dog.

From Washington Post

The assumption of the four-pack is that you and your spouse or roommate will attach one to each of your respective keys, another will be taped, I guess, to the living room remote control, and the final Tile will be... well, in my case, put on the dog's collar.

From The Verge