ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sic

v.
C2 Proficiency US //ˈsɪk// UK //sˈɪk// sic

v. to order an animal, usually a dog, to attack or chase someone. You use it when you want to set a dog on a person or another animal.

v. to incite or command a dog or other animal to attack. Transitive; often used in the imperative or as a threat.


SIMPLE

The farmer threatened to sic his dog on the trespassers.

CONTEXTUAL

If you don't leave my property immediately, I will have to sic the guard dogs on you.

COMPLEX

The coach would often sic his most aggressive defender on the opposing team's star player to disrupt their offensive rhythm.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and typically takes the preposition 'on' or 'upon' before the target.

Pitfall

He sicked the dog on me.He sicced the dog on me.The past tense and past participle are spelled 'sicced' or 'sicked', but 'sicced' is preferred to avoid confusion with the adjective 'sick'.

© 2026 English Reference