puppy dog
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of puppy dog
First recorded in 1585–95
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.
Mamdani is famous for his ear-to-ear grin and puppy dog levels of enthusiasm.
From Salon ● Nov. 3, 2025
“Who doesn’t like a brightly colored kitty cat or puppy dog on their children’s items, particularly in times that are stressful?”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2023
And he believes he can construct a championship team here, one that presumably will reside next door to his mansions built on pipe dreams and puppy dog kisses.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 1, 2022
Born Nils Gronberg, Einar had the face of a puppy dog, the flow of an international rap connoisseur and the chest-puffed lyrics of a hardened gang member.
From New York Times ● Jan. 7, 2022
Joe gave Benny what I assumed was his sad puppy dog face.
From "The First Rule of Punk" by Celia C. Pérez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
