dog's life

Idioms and Phrases

A miserably unhappy existence, as in He's been leading a dog's life since his wife left him . This expression was first recorded in a 16th-century manuscript and alludes to the miserable subservient existence of dogs during this era. By the 1660s there was a proverb: “It's a dog's life, hunger and ease.”

Example Sentences

“That’s what I’d want, is that they’d really value their dog’s life and give their dog its best chance of having a full, long life.”

From New York Times

Playing fetch is part and parcel of a dog's life - but now scientists have found many cats enjoy it just as much.

From BBC

Spending time with a dog is one of the most consistently effective ways to improve a dog's life in the shelter.

From Science Daily

"Almost two years is a significant difference in a dog's life," said co-corresponding author Danika Bannasch, Maxine Adler Endowed Chair in genetics with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

From Science Daily

“Seventy-thousand dollars — you amortize it over 10 to 15 years, whatever the dog’s life is, and it’s not that big of a price tag.”

From Los Angeles Times