dog's life
A miserable, wretched existence.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He works two jobs and has a dog's life.”
“It is a dog's life when you have no home.”
“Between the constant stress at the office and his long commute, he feels like he is living a dog's life.”
“The soldiers complained about their dog's life while they waited in the cold rain for the supply trucks to arrive.”
“He thought being a famous actor would be easy, but the constant travel and lack of sleep make it a dog's life.”
“After years of poverty and endless labor, she looked back on her youth as nothing more than a miserable dog's life.”
first recorded 16th c.
The phrase is first recorded c. 1528, appearing in a context that suggests a state of miserable and subservient existence. The comparison relies upon the historical status of the working dog, which was generally expected to endure harsh treatment, scavenge for sustenance, and occupy a social position significantly lower than that of the furniture. In the early 16th century, the domestic canine was rarely a pampered companion, and the idiom reflects this lack of comfort.
- 01
beg for one's life
To plead or make a desperate attempt to continue with what one has been doing.
- 02
bread of life
Anything which is regarded as a source or inspiration of spiritual nourishment.
- 03
bring back to life
To return someone to a state of consciousness or living after a state of unconsciousness, death or near-death.
- 04
buy a dog and bark oneself
To do something that one has hired someone else to do.
- 05
call off the dogs
To ease up on after inflicting great punishment.
- 06
cat and dog life
An unhappy married life marked by arguments and disagreements.
- 07
change of life
Menopause.
- 08
charmed life
A life in which one is always lucky and safe from danger.
Last updated August 10, 2026