# dog

/ˈdɔɡ/ (US) · /dˈɒɡ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dog
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the animal

noun · CEFR A1

a common animal with four legs and a tail, often kept as a pet or used for work.

For teachers: a domesticated carnivorous mammal of the family Canidae, typically kept as a pet, for guarding, or for hunting.

- The neighbor's dog barks every time someone walks past the garden gate.
- While some breeds are specifically developed for their tracking abilities, the common domestic dog primarily serves as a companion in urban environments.

### 2. something of poor quality

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

something that is a failure or does not work well.

For teachers: an item, project, or investment that performs poorly or is of noticeably inferior quality.

- That old car was a total dog and broke down every week.
- The studio realized the film was a dog long before its release, but they were already committed to a massive marketing campaign.

### 3. a person

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a way to describe a person, often used between friends or as an insult.

For teachers: a term of address for a man, ranging from affectionate camaraderie to a derogatory description of an unattractive or contemptible person.

- What's up, dog? I haven't seen you since the summer.
- He was known as a lucky dog in the office, always managing to secure the best accounts without much apparent effort.

### 4. feet

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · Slang

a slang word for your feet.

For teachers: a plural slang reference to human feet.

- My dogs are barking after walking around the city all day.
- After twelve hours on the hospital floor, the nurse sat down and complained that her dogs were killing her.

### 5. mechanical tool

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a metal tool or part used to hold something in place.

For teachers: a mechanical device, such as a heavy metal hook or bar, used for gripping, fastening, or holding an object.

- The worker used a steel dog to secure the hatch on the ship.
- The carpenter engaged the bench dog to hold the timber steady while he planed the surface to a smooth finish.

### 6. to follow closely

verb · CEFR B2

to follow someone closely and persistently, often in a way that is annoying.

For teachers: to follow or track someone or something persistently and relentlessly.

- Rumors of the scandal continued to dog the politician throughout the election.
- Technical failures continued to dog the project, eventually forcing the lead engineer to request a complete redesign of the cooling system.

### 7. very bad

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang

of very poor quality; bad.

For teachers: denoting something of extremely low quality or standard.

- That was a dog performance and the audience hated it.
- The critics dismissed the play as a dog production, citing the amateurish set design and the lead actor's wooden delivery.

## Examples

- I take my dog for a walk every morning.
- The neighbor's dog barked loudly whenever the mail carrier approached the front gate.
- While some breeds were developed for their aesthetic appeal, the working dog remains an essential partner for shepherds managing large flocks across rugged terrain.

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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.