Dog’s life

Meaning

The idiom "dog's life" is used to describe a situation or experience that is extremely unpleasant, difficult, or tiring. It can also be used to refer to someone who has an easy or carefree lifestyle compared to others. The figurative meaning of this idiom is that living in such a situation is like being a dog, which faces many hardships and struggles just to survive.

Usage

• "After working for 12 hours straight, I feel like I'm living a dog's life." - This sentence uses the idiom in a negative context to describe the exhaustion of working long hours.
• "I wish I had a dog's life," said John as he watched his friends play in the park. - In this sentence, the idiom is used in a positive context to express envy towards those who have an easy and carefree lifestyle.
• "The traffic was so heavy that I felt like I was living a dog's life." - This sentence uses the idiom to describe the frustration of sitting in heavy traffic.
• "She worked hard every day, but she still had a dog's life compared to her colleagues who slacked off all day." - In this sentence, the idiom is used to compare someone's work ethic with that of others.
• "He doesn't have to worry about anything, he just lives a dog's life," said Sarah as she watched her friend relax on the beach. - This sentence uses the idiom in a positive context to describe someone who has an easy and stress-free lifestyle.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "dog's life" is unclear, but it may have originated from the idea that dogs often face hardships and struggles just to survive. The earliest known use of the idiom can be traced back to the 19th century, where it was used in literature and poetry. Over time, the idiom has become more commonly used in everyday language to describe a difficult or unpleasant situation.

Synonyms in English

• "I feel like I'm living in hell." - This idiom expresses similar feelings of suffering and hardship.
• "It's like pulling teeth," said John as he tried to open the stubborn jar. - This idiom also conveys a sense of frustration and difficulty.
• "I'm in a pickle," said Sarah as she struggled to find her way out of the maze. - This idiom expresses similar feelings of being stuck or trapped.
• "The ball is in your court," said John as he passed the responsibility to his friend. - This idiom conveys a sense of obligation and responsibility.
• "I'm on cloud nine," said Sarah as she enjoyed the delicious cake her colleague had made for her birthday. - This idiom expresses feelings of joy and happiness.

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "La vie des chiens" - This idiom has a similar meaning to "dog's life" and is used to describe a difficult or unpleasant situation.
• Spanish: "El infierno" - This idiom expresses feelings of suffering and hardship, similar to "hell."
• German: "Das Teufelsschaf der Menschen" - This idiom expresses the idea that people are often stubborn and difficult to deal with, similar to "pulling teeth."
• Italian: "La vita è brutta" - This idiom expresses feelings of suffering and hardship, similar to "dog's life."
• Portuguese: "Estar como um cão na rua" - This idiom has a similar meaning to "dog's life" and is used to describe a difficult or unpleasant situation.

Similar Idioms

• deliver the goods

• down the road

• dog days