go to the dogs

dog  (dôg, dg)

n.

1. A domesticated carnivorous mammal (Canis familiaris) related to the foxes and wolves and raised in a wide variety of breeds.

2. Any of various carnivorous mammals of the family Canidae, such as the dingo.

3. A male animal of the family Canidae, especially of the fox or a domesticated breed.

4. Any of various other animals, such as the prairie dog.

5. Informal

a. A person: You won, you lucky dog.

b. A person regarded as contemptible: You stole my watch, you dog.

6. Slang

a. A person regarded as unattractive or uninteresting.

b. Something of inferior or low quality: "The President had read the speech to some of his friends and they told him it was a dog" (John P. Roche).

c. An investment that produces a low return or a loss.

7. dogs Slang The feet.

8. See andiron.

9. Slang A hot dog; a wiener.

10. Any of various hooked or U-shaped metallic devices used for gripping or holding heavy objects.

11. Astronomy A sun dog.

adv.

Totally; completely. Often used in combination: dog-tired.

tr.v. dogged, dog·ging, dogs

1. To track or trail persistently: "A stranger then is still dogging us" (Arthur Conan Doyle).

2. To hold or fasten with a mechanical device: "Watertight doors and hatches were dropped into place and dogged down to give the ship full watertight integrity" (Tom Clancy).

Idioms:

dog it Slang

To fail to expend the effort needed to do or accomplish something.

go to the dogs

To go to ruin; degenerate.

put on the dog Informal

To make an ostentatious display of elegance, wealth, or culture.

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[Middle English dogge, from Old English docga.]

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

go to the dogs - become ruined; "His business went to pot when economy soured" go to pot deteriorate - become worse or disintegrate; "His mind deteriorated"