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.
“It just makes things more palatable to me to think of the duality of life through the eyes of a little puppy dog or ladybug.”
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2025
His adoring, puppy dog gaze toward the president spawned hundreds of memes.
From Salon • Apr. 28, 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
His shoulders slumped, and he seemed to look at me with puppy dog eyes.
From New York Times • Aug. 19, 2021
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.
