English Reference
Idiom idiom

the whole world and his dog


Everybody; too many people; a huge crowd.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

The whole world and his dog showed up at the free concert.

CONTEXTUAL

I tried to get a table at the new restaurant, but the whole world and his dog were already waiting in line.

COMPLEX

By the time the celebrity arrived at the gala, the whole world and his dog had gathered outside to catch a glimpse of the star.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all over the world

    throughout the world, everywhere, worldwide, globally.

  2. 02

    best of both worlds

    A combination of two seemingly contradictory benefits.

  3. 03

    buy a dog and bark oneself

    To do something that one has hired someone else to do.

  4. 04

    call off the dogs

    To ease up on after inflicting great punishment.

  5. 05

    cat and dog life

    An unhappy married life marked by arguments and disagreements.

  6. 06

    come into the world

    To be born.

  7. 07

    coming into the world

    The act of being born; a birth.

  8. 08

    dead to the world

    Sound asleep.

Last updated August 10, 2026