ENGLISH
REFERENCE

three-dog night

idiom
Meaning

A very cold night.


Origin

disputed origin

An Inuit saying, used to indicate a low temperature during the night, and during very frigid temperatures, one would require three sled dogs in the igloo to keep oneself warm.

Examples
SIMPLE

It is a three-dog night, so please bring another blanket.

CONTEXTUAL

The temperature dropped so low that we called it a three-dog night and stayed inside by the fire.

COMPLEX

As the blizzard howled outside, the family huddled together, fully aware that this was truly a three-dog night.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bank night

    An event where patrons are enticed to buy entry tickets into some venue, for example a movie theater, with the anticipation that they will be entered into a drawing to win an amount of money if their ticket is drawn and they are on-site at the time of the winning.

  2. 02

    call it a night

    To go to bed to sleep.

  3. 03

    call it an early night

    To go to bed or cease one's activities earlier in the evening than usual.

  4. 04

    creature of the night

    A prostitute.

  5. 05

    day or night

    At any time; 24/7

  6. 06

    dead of night

    Middle of the night.

  7. 07

    make a night of it

    To continue a pleasurable social activity for the whole evening or night.

  8. 08

    night in, night out

    During every night; continuously.

Last updated April 17, 2026