DOG DAYS (OF SUMMER), DOG-EARED, DOG-EAT-DOG: American English Idioms #56

DOG DAYS (OF SUMMER)

The dog days of summer are an idiom meaning the hottest time of the year, often observed by canine behavior. This period is thought to be due to the position of Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, in the eastern sky at this time. The theory is that it heats up during this part of summer because of its proximity to the sun and earth. This may be true on a large scale, but not for individuals.

Dog days of summer is an idiomatic phrase that was the result of a misinterpretation of the astrological term “dog days.” Astrologers used “dog days” to refer to the period between July and September when Sirius, the Dog Star, is most visible. The phrase “dog days” became associated with excessive heat and aridity as dogs are susceptible to those conditions.

Dog days of summer is an idiom which refers to the hottest time of year, usually in August or September. It originates from the belief that Sirius, the Dog Star, is passing directly over the Earth and scorching temps.

The dog days of summer is an idiom that refers to the hot part of the year, where the sky is clear and the temperate is high. It originates from ancient Greece, where dogs would lie around during this time of year. Today this term is used to describe anything that feels like it’s not doing well because of the high temperatures.

DOG-EARED

This term refers to the condition of the spine of a book. A dog ear is when the pages are folded over and creased in, making it difficult to read without flipping back and forth. It is also called a page corner. It refers to the act of folding over an edge of a page, typically to keep your place while reading, but may also be done for aesthetics or other reasons.

Dog-eared idiom is often used to describe the corners of a page that have been bent or folded over. The metaphor comes from the position of a dog’s ears, which are frequently positioned as described.

Dog ear is a term that has meanings both in academic and colloquial contexts. In the academic context, “dog ears” refers to when pages of a book are turned down so they can be easily found later. Colloquially, “dog earing” refers to when someone tears out the corner of a page so it can be found later.

A dog-eared idiom is an outdated or unidiomatic expression, usually found in older literature. This phrase is derived from the way pages of books would get folded over time, making them look like they were ‘dog-eared’.

DOG-EAT-DOG

Dog-eat-dog is a colloquial expression meaning that people are willing to compete ruthlessly against each other. The idiom comes from the blood sport of dog fighting, in which one dog is pitted against another. In popular culture, the term is often used to characterize a competitive environment where there are no rules and power is obtained by any means necessary.

In a dog-eat-dog world, it is every person for themselves. There are no friends. The people in this world are only out to get what they can from other people. It’s a very competitive environment, and survival of the fittest is the only way to make it through in a society ruled by machismo.

The dog-eat-dog idiom is the idea that all individuals are motivated by self-interest, and will do whatever it takes to survive. It comes from the idea of dogs fighting each other to the death for food scraps. The idiom is often used interchangeably with “every man for himself” or “fight to the finish.

Dog-eat-dog is a phrase used to describe a harsh and competitive environment. This phrase typically applies to the world of business, where one should expect to see very little cooperation and mutual assistance among other players in the market. More often than not, it takes an individual’s utmost focus and commitment for him or her to succeed in such an arena, as there are always others eagerly waiting for any chance they can get to take your spot.