Idioms_animal_dog

BBC Learning English

The Teacher

Dog idioms

The Teacher ? BBC Learning English Page 1 of 2

In this episode, The Teacher introduces you to three idiomatic phrases connected with dogs.

1. To be in the dog house

2. The hair of the dog

3. To make a dog's dinner of something

Hello, I’m a very interesting and intelligent man.

And this is Rex. Today Rex will be helping me to teach you some English idioms.

I bet you’ve never been taught by a dog before.

As you can see, Rex is in the dog house.

Of course he is. He is a dog.

Now it’s all very well for Rex to be in the dog house, but how would you like to be there? Not very much.

In English if someone is unpopular because they've done something wrong we can say they're 'in the dog house'.

To be in the dog house .

Like that time I got so drunk that I missed all my classes the next day. I was really in the dog house then.

I can’t really remember too much about last night. I think I had one or two glasses of wine too many, and beer, oh and whiskey, and vodka, champagne, cider. Today I missed all my classes.

I’m really in the doghouse with my boss.

I feel awful.

What’s that you say Rex? Your hair? The hair of the dog?

What a disgusting idea. In English, some people say if you feel bad after drinking too much the night before you should have the hair of the dog. It means a little bit of alcohol to make you feel better.

The hair of the dog.

I don’t think this is going to work.... Never again.

Look at this beast.

He’s made a dog’s dinner of that. It means he’s made a mess of something.

To make a dog’s dinner of something.

Oh, I’ve made a dog’s dinner of that. Let me just do it again.

To make a dog’s dinner of something.

Oh, I’ve made a dog’s dinner of that. Let me just do it again.

To make a dog’s dinner of something.

The Teacher ? BBC Learning English

Page 2 of 2