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dog

dog

8 9.9
A metal support that holds logs in a fireplace
  • noun
  • /dɔg/
  • Archaic
translation icon : andirón
  • Fireplace dogs are essential for keeping the wood elevated to allow for proper airflow.

Examples

  • In the fireplace, the dogs held the logs securely in place as they burned brightly.

  • The blacksmith used two dogs to stabilize the logs while he worked on them.

  • Think about the dogs and making a fire when you get there.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Then he transformed an andiron into the little black dog nibbling at his sister's foot.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Place to use some other residence accessories like gnomes that may help you develop a little imagination in your yard or even have metallic dog stakes used to include details in your backyard.

    Blog text (12)

Synonyms

andiron
vsdog
1 9.9

A metal support, one of a pair, that holds logs in a fireplace

is the alternative name for the same metal fireplace support
firedog
vsdog
  • Archaic
9.6

A metal support that holds logs in a fireplace

is an alternative name used for the identical fireplace support
dog-iron
vsdog
  • Archaic
9.9

A metal stand in a fireplace that holds logs while they burn

is another form of the same name for that fireplace support

Idioms

8 3.4

Spend a lot of time doing hard, tiring tasks

hair of the dog
  • Informal
4 7.7

An alcoholic drink taken to ease a hangover

1 8.4

A small, unimportant part that controls the whole thing

1 9.9

Act in a showy way to impress people

to wag the dog
  • Literature
1 8.8

Make people focus on something less important to hide a bigger problem

dog in the manger
  • Offensive
1 9.7

A person who stops others from using something they neither want nor need

Use a company's own products to show they work and learn from them

9.9

To do a task yourself and take responsibility for what happens

A person who finally gets what they wanted but does not know what to do next

dog to kick
  • Informal
9.9

A person unfairly blamed when something goes wrong

dog in the hunt
  • Informal
8.2

A person who cares about the result and is actively involved

A person who suddenly succeeds and then does not know what to do next

A playful phrase that says another person or pet is welcome too

9.1

Very angry and ready to attack

Very different from each other in important ways

9.6

Very eager and determined to get something

9.9

To not have enough evidence to prove someone is guilty or to take action

To do something kind for a person in trouble

To do work yourself when you hired someone else to do it

People online can hide who they really are

9.9

To keep trying until everything is finished no matter how long it takes

treated like a dog
  • Offensive
8.1

To behave badly towards someone and show no respect

9.5

Test something first with a small group before using it more widely

To keep supporting something until the very end, no matter how long it takes

Compounds

252 1.0

A cooked sausage in a sliced bun, often with mustard or ketchup

44 1.0

Food made for dogs to eat

26 1.9

A hot dog with spicy meat sauce in a bun

dog shit
  • Offensive
22 9.5

Poop that a dog leaves on the ground

22 3.4

A mammal like a dog that is not kept as a pet and lives in groups

top dog
  • Informal
21 4.6

A person with the most power in a group

20 2.1

A dog trained to protect people or property by warning and sometimes attacking intruders

17 1.8

A hot dog covered in cornmeal batter and fried on a stick

15 2.0

An event where judges compare dogs to breed standards

14 3.9

A small metal tag on a chain worn by soldiers showing name and number

A large, intelligent dog that works in police teams or guides blind people

hot dog
  • Archaic
10 7.6

A person who does dangerous tricks to get attention

9 1.9

A dog trained to lead and help a person who cannot see

9 2.2

A dog trained to help police find people, drugs, or bombs

8 4.1

A dog trained to attack or guard on command

8 4.7

A small animal that digs tunnels and lives in large groups on North American grasslands

8 2.3

A dog trained to find and catch animals or birds

7 1.0

A band worn around a dog's neck to hold a leash or name tag

A dog trained to guide a person who cannot see

6 2.7

A dog trained to pull a sled in snowy areas

6 5.5

The hottest time of summer when people often rest and business slows down

6 2.7

A dog used for hunting with long ears and a very good nose

5 1.0

An injury when a dog's teeth break the skin

5 3.2

A person who finds stray dogs and brings them to a shelter

4 1.0

A hard dry food for dogs often used as a treat

4 3.1

Dogs pull a sled that carries people or supplies over snow

A person who trains and calms dogs using quiet gentle ways

3 1.0

A small outside shelter where a dog sleeps or stays

sea dog
  • Informal
3 6.9

A sailor who has worked at sea for many years

mad dog
  • Offensive
3 7.9

A person who acts violently and without control

3 2.5

A dog raised and trained to do jobs like guiding or herding animals

3 2.8

A small metal plate on a dog's collar showing the owner's name and phone number

3 2.5

A place where lost or stray dogs are kept temporarily

dog-tired
  • Informal
3 6.4

Very tired after doing hard work for a long time

3 8.9

A small group of stars in the northern sky east of Orion that contains the bright star Procyon

2 2.1

A person who washes, cuts, and styles dogs' fur

alpha dog
  • Informal
2 7.0

A confident person who takes charge and leads a group that others follow

lucky dog
  • Informal
2 5.8

A person who has very good luck

big dog
  • Informal
2 6.7

A person who is very important and powerful in a group

black dog
  • Literature
2 8.6

A large ghostly dog in stories that people use to describe deep sadness

dirty dog
  • Offensive
2 8.0

A person who behaves badly or cheats others

2 3.1

A simple swimming stroke with arms and legs moving one after the other like a dog swims

2 2.6

A race where dogs run and people bet on which dog will win

1 7.2

A dog that finds and brings back birds for hunters

1 2.8

Choosing which dogs mate to get puppies with certain qualities

dog-doo
  • Baby Talk
1 8.6

Poop left by dogs on the ground

1 1.0

A dog people keep as a pet or to do work

junkyard dog
  • Informal
1 8.4

A person who is very aggressive to protect their friends or area

1 4.4

A dog trained to swim and fetch ducks during hunting

wiener dog
  • Informal
1 3.1

A small dog with a long body and short legs often kept as a pet

1 3.2

A very small dog that people breed and keep as a pet in homes

1 2.7

A dog with long hair that herds and guards sheep

devil dog
  • Slang
1 7.2

A member of the United States Marine Corps known for bravery and toughness

1 6.8

A stiff white collar with no front opening worn by some priests or ministers

1 6.7

The brightest star in the night sky, also called Sirius

1 3.8

A dog trained to help hunters by finding and bringing back birds

bottom dog
  • Offensive
1 9.2

A person or group with low rank who usually loses in competition

1 4.2

A short necklace for women that sits close to the neck like a collar

1 6.7

A wild rose bush that has prickly stems and pink or white flowers

dog food
  • Jargon
1 3.9

A product a company uses inside to test and find problems before public release

dog turd
  • NSFW
1 5.1

A piece of poop that a dog leaves on the ground

dog turd
  • Offensive
1 9.9

An insulting word for a person or thing that is very bad

1 2.1

About the size of a pet dog

1 6.0

An Arctic dog with thick fur used to pull sleds over snow

three-dog night
  • Informal
1 9.8

A very cold night when you need extra blankets to stay warm

shaggy dog story
  • Informal
1 8.8

A long, silly story that goes on and ends with no real punchline

sporting dog
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A dog bred and trained to help hunters find and retrieve game birds

1 3.5

A dog that barks loudly again and again in an annoying way

A large Swiss working dog with long black, brown, and white fur that is gentle and loyal

A small squirrel-like animal that lives underground in groups and has a black-tipped tail

cant dog
  • Specialized
9.9

A strong bar with a pointed end used to move heavy logs

Cape hunting dog
  • South African
9.2

A large wild dog from southern and eastern Africa that hunts in packs

carriage dog
  • Archaic
5.2

A large white dog with black or brown spots that used to run beside carriages

How Stable

fireback
1 7.4
dog
  • Archaic
8 9.9
grate
36 3.9
trivet
1 7.9

Surface Forms

dog singular
dogs plural

Etymology

Dog for the metal support in a fireplace comes from their job to 'hold' or guard the logs like a faithful dog. That's why fireplace 'dogs' keep the wood in place while it burns.