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to dog

to dog

23 6.8
To follow someone closely and keep causing them trouble
  • verb
  • /dɔɡ/
translation icon : perseguir
  • The press continues to dog the politician with questions about the scandal.
  • continue to dog

It can leave a guilt that dogs the golden child for a lifetime.

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Examples

  • But it's beginning to dog us both.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Here are the sample questions that the campaign is asking people to dog lawmakers with.

    Blog text (8)
  • Now another group, smaller than the first, had appeared to dog his tracks.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Beyond the EEOC, several issues continue to dog both employees and management.

    Academic text (2001)
  • I want to let go of the doubt and insecurity that dog my steps and sometimes turn good days bad.

    Blog text (24)
  • I think newspapers' precarious financial situations make their executives afraid to dog a lying candidate or official.

    Blog text (31)
  • AI automation and Asia and I'm not dogging Asian countries in any way shape or form.

  • Dog the hatch now!

  • But when Steve was just dogging Hill at the line of scrimmage, bodied him.

  • Grimes pushes past, but Lampley dogs him.

    Fiction book (2002)

Synonyms

to track
vsto dog
2.3

To follow where a person or thing goes

is active pursuit aimed at catching or persistently bothering someone
to chase
vsto dog
855 1.0

To run after someone or something to catch them

is steadier persistent following rather than a fast short pursuit
to go after
vsto dog
839 2.1

Try to get something you want or follow someone to catch them

is a closer, continuous following often intended to harass or catch
to hound
vsto dog
58 6.1

To follow and bother someone without stopping

is persistent following aimed at catching or harassing someone
to tail
vsto dog
52 5.9

To follow someone closely and secretly to watch them

is about steady open pursuit rather than secret surveillance
to trail
vsto dog
50 2.5

Follow someone closely to try to catch them

is more about ongoing close pursuit rather than just intent
to give chase
vsto dog
11 4.1

Start running after someone or something to catch them

refers to the continued act of following rather than the initial start
to chase after
vsto dog
4 1.9

To run after someone or something to catch them

is similar but implies longer, more persistent pursuit rather than brief chase
to heel
vsto dog
2 6.9

To stay very close behind someone, like a trained dog

is similar but focuses on sustained pursuit and possible harassment

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

Phrasal Verbs

To take a dog outside on a leash for exercise

To take a dog into your home to keep as a pet, often from a shelter

To take a dog outside for exercise, usually on a leash

to double dog dare
  • Baby Talk
1 8.3

Challenge someone playfully so they feel they cannot refuse to do something

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 Persistent

to hound
58 6.1
to dog
23 6.8
to stalk
  • Offensive
195 7.4
to shadow
27 6.0
to trail
50 2.5
to follow
1.0

Surface Forms

dog infinitive
dogged past
dogged past participle
dogging present participle
dogs third person singular

Etymology

The verb dog comes from how a real dog follows and chases something without giving up, so to 'dog' someone is to follow or trouble them persistently.