Put someone in the doghouse 🐶🏠

Meaning

To cause someone to be in a state of disgrace or disapproval, especially by upsetting them.

Origin

Imagine a cold, rainy night. In simpler times, the family dog might have been relegated to sleeping outside in a kennel, perhaps even a rudimentary doghouse. If Fido misbehaved terribly—chewed the furniture, perhaps, or dug up the prize petunias—he'd be banished from the warm hearth and cozy house, forced to endure the elements alone in his outdoor shelter. This act of exclusion and displeasure, where the dog was literally out of favor and out in the cold, became a vivid metaphor for how people treat those who have earned their ire, banished from the inner circle and left to stew in their own disagreeable situation.

😠⚔️ anger 🔒 secrets ❌📉 failure 🗣️ communication

Put someone in the doghouse represented with emoji🐶🏠

This playful piece functions as 🐶🏠, whimsically inviting us to consider the delightful, yet sometimes precarious, state of being in disapproval. It underscores the universal experience of minor social tumbles, reminding us not just of the consequences, but of the charmingly awkward moments that punctuate our lives.

Examples

  • He forgot their anniversary, so his wife really put him in the doghouse.
  • The team lost the championship game, putting the star player in the doghouse with the fans.
  • For eating all the cookies before the party, the toddler found himself firmly in the doghouse, much to the cat's quiet delight.
  • By accidentally coloring the white couch with permanent marker, the mischievous puppy earned a lengthy stay in the metaphorical doghouse, complete with a stern talking-to and a lack of belly rubs.

Frequently asked questions

What's the opposite of 'put someone in the doghouse'?

The opposite of 'put someone in the doghouse' is to 'welcome someone back into the fold' or 'take someone back'. This implies reinstating someone into favor after they had been out of favor.

Is 'put someone in the doghouse' a relatively new idiom?

No, the idiom 'put someone in the doghouse' is considered relatively old, appearing in print as early as the late 19th century. Its widespread use solidified over time as a common expression for disapproval.

Can you 'put yourself in the doghouse'?

Yes, one can 'put themselves in the doghouse' by their own actions leading to someone else's displeasure. This means a person has acted in a way that has earned them disapproval or a negative standing with another.

Is 'put someone in the doghouse' a proverb or an idiom?

'Put someone in the doghouse' is an idiom. Unlike proverbs, which often offer a piece of wisdom or advice, idioms are phrases whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal meaning of the words used.

Similar to "put someone in the doghouse"

Fall from grace
Both phrases describe a loss of favor, but 'fall from grace' often implies a more significant, public, and perhaps unexpected decline, whereas 'put someone in the doghouse' is typically about a more personal, immediate relationship or a lesser offense
Get on someone's bad side
Both involve incurring someone's disapproval, but 'get on someone's bad side' focuses on the action of the person being disapproved of, while 'put someone in the doghouse' emphasizes the active shunning or punishment by the one who is displeased
Be out of favor
Both indicate a state of not being liked or approved of, but 'be out of favor' is a more general and often less emotionally charged description of a status, whereas 'put someone in the doghouse' suggests a more deliberate and often petty act of displeasure

Opposite of "put someone in the doghouse"

Put someone on a pedestal
This phrase argues for extreme admiration and idealization, directly opposing the idea of shunning or disapproval inherent in 'put someone in the doghouse'
Win someone over
This argues for the power of persuasion and positive action to gain approval, a complete reversal of the passive, negative state of being 'in the doghouse'
Restore someone to favor
This speaks to a redemptive process, the exact opposite of casting someone out of favor and into disgrace

Related to "put someone in the doghouse"

On thin ice
Similar to being in the doghouse, this idiom describes a precarious position where one wrong move could lead to further disapproval
Give someone the cold shoulder
This action is often how one ends up 'in the doghouse,' embodying the ostracism and unfriendliness implied by the main phrase
Offending someone
This is the direct cause or prerequisite for being 'put in the doghouse,' highlighting the precipitating event
Making amends
This is the likely response or remedy for someone who finds themselves metaphorically kicked out into the yard and into disgrace
A sulking mood
This phrase captures the lingering feeling of displeasure and standoffishness that often accompanies the act of 'putting someone in the doghouse'