# put on the dog

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/put-on-the-dog
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To dress up; to make a show of wealth and/or importance; to be pretentious.

## Examples

- They really put on the dog for the wedding party.
- She decided to put on the dog for the gala, wearing her most expensive jewelry and a designer gown.
- The guests arrived in luxury cars, clearly eager to put on the dog and impress everyone with their displays of newfound wealth.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.