15 Idioms on animals - Set 07

91. Dirty dog

• Meaning: A deceitful, untrustworthy, or dishonest person.

• Sentence Usage 1: Watch out for him; he's a dirty dog who can't be trusted.

• Sentence Usage 2: Being labeled as a dirty dog damaged his reputation in the community.

92. Does a one-legged duck swim in circles?

• Meaning: A rhetorical question indicating the obvious or a situation with an expected outcome.

• Sentence Usage 1: Is he going to accept the promotion? Does a one-legged duck swim in circles?

• Sentence Usage 2: Will she attend the party? Does a one-legged duck swim in circles?

93. Dog and pony show

• Meaning: An elaborate presentation or display, often with the intention to impress or distract.

• Sentence Usage 1: The product launch turned into a dog and pony show with flashy lights and music.

• Sentence Usage 2: The politician's speech felt more like a dog and pony show than a substantive policy discussion.

94. Dog days

• Meaning: The hottest period of summer, often associated with lethargy and inactivity.

• Sentence Usage 1: During the dog days, people prefer staying indoors to escape the scorching heat.

• Sentence Usage 2: The garden showed signs of wilting during the dog days of August.

95. Dog eat dog

• Meaning: An extremely competitive and ruthless environment where people are willing to harm each other to succeed.

• Sentence Usage 1: The business world can be dog eat dog, so you need to be strategic to survive.

• Sentence Usage 2: The competitive nature of the industry made it a dog eat dog scenario.

96. Dog in the manger

• Meaning: Someone who prevents others from enjoying or using something they don't need themselves.

• Sentence Usage 1: His refusal to share the resources was a classic case of being a dog in the manger.

• Sentence Usage 2: The team leader acted like a dog in the manger, hoarding opportunities for personal gain.

97. Dog tired

• Meaning: Extremely exhausted or fatigued.

• Sentence Usage 1: After the long hike, he was dog tired and needed a good rest.

• Sentence Usage 2: Working late into the night left her dog tired the next day.

98. Dog's dinner

• Meaning: Something messy, chaotic, or poorly done.

• Sentence Usage 1: The party decorations were a dog's dinner—nothing matched, and it was a mess.

• Sentence Usage 2: The attempt to fix the plumbing turned into a dog's dinner, resulting in leaks everywhere.

99. Dog's life

• Meaning: A difficult or unpleasant life.

• Sentence Usage 1: Living on the streets, he led a dog's life, struggling for survival.

• Sentence Usage 2: Despite his wealth, the demanding job made it feel like a dog's life.

100. Dog-eared

• Meaning: Referring to a book or paper with worn or folded corners due to use.

• Sentence Usage 1: The novel, read multiple times, had become dog-eared with its pages worn and creased.

• Sentence Usage 2: The notebook in his backpack was dog-eared from constant use during the semester.

101. Doggy bag

• Meaning: A bag provided by a restaurant to take home leftover food.

• Sentence Usage 1: The portion was large, so she requested a doggy bag for the remaining food.

• Sentence Usage 2: The waiter brought a doggy bag without asking when he saw the untouched dish.

102. Don't catch your chickens before they're hatched

• Meaning: Don't plan on success or profit before it is certain.

• Sentence Usage 1: Celebrating the victory before the final result would be like catching chickens before they're hatched.

• Sentence Usage 2: It's wise to wait for the official announcement; don't catch your chickens before they're hatched.

103. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

• Meaning: Don't be critical of a gift; be grateful for what you receive.

• Sentence Usage 1: Even though it wasn't his preferred color, he decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth and accepted the car graciously.

• Sentence Usage 2: The advice may not be perfect, but don't look a gift horse in the mouth; appreciate the help.

104. Don't stop and kick at every dog that barks at you

• Meaning: Don't waste time addressing every criticism or opposition.

• Sentence Usage 1: In a competitive field, it's essential not to stop and kick at every dog that barks at you; focus on your goals.

• Sentence Usage 2: As a public figure, you'll face criticism, but don't let it distract you—don't stop and kick at every dog that barks at you.

105. Donkey work

• Meaning: Tedious or hard labor, often routine and uninteresting.

• Sentence Usage 1: The interns were assigned the donkey work of organizing files and data entry.

• Sentence Usage 2: Climbing the corporate ladder often involves starting with donkey work before gaining more significant responsibilities.