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Glite Dictionary
in the doghouse

in the doghouse

12 7.9
Not liked or trusted because you did something wrong
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : en problemas
  • He forgot our anniversary, so now he's really in the doghouse with me.
  • get in the doghouse
  • already in the doghouse
  • in the doghouse again

But if it's just like you're going to have to spend a week in the doghouse and like, you know, do you think this is worth it?

Examples

  • After his outburst at the meeting, he found himself in the doghouse with his boss.

  • Looks like I'm the one that's in the doghouse.

    Lady and the Tramp (1955)

  • Are you in the doghouse?

    Marry Me (2022)

  • Fine, then sleep in the doghouse.

    The Adventures of Pinocchio (1996)

  • Did I mention I was in the doghouse?

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Whether he was in the doghouse or not, he got the message.

    Blog text (30)

  • - I'm in the doghouse again, you know what I mean?

    Boys Don't Cry (1999)

  • The word around here is you're in the doghouse.

    Theodore Rex (1995)

  • I was already in the doghouse for getting J.P.'s name wrong.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Matthew and I thought it was great fun, but Seamus was in the doghouse for days afterwards.

    Fiction book (1997)

Synonyms

doghouse
vsin the doghouse
  • Informal
19 6.3

In trouble with someone, often a partner or boss, because you upset them

is used for being out of favor with any person, not only authorities
disfavor
vsin the doghouse
4 6.2

Lack of public support or approval

is about being in trouble with someone because of a specific action
in Dutch
vsin the doghouse
  • Archaic
1 9.9

In trouble with someone in charge

is used when the trouble happens because of the person's actions

Antonyms

in good odor
  • Archaic
9.7

A person or group that people respect and trust

to stay in favor
4.7

To continue being liked or supported by a person in power

How Out of Favor

on bad terms
  • Informal
1 3.6
in the doghouse
  • Informal
12 7.9
angry
∞ 1.0
to upset
362 1.0
annoyed
77 1.0

Surface Forms

in the doghouse positive

Morphology

in + the + doghouse

The literal constituents ('in' + 'the' + 'doghouse' = inside a dog's small shelter) give a plausible metaphor of being put aside or punished, so there is a visible link between the parts and the idiomatic meaning. However, the shift from a literal location to the social sense 'in trouble or out of favor' is culture-specific and not fully predictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

In the doghouse may come from a simple home picture: when someone made the family angry, they were sent to sleep in the small doghouse outside. Being left there made them an outsider, so the phrase came to mean 'in trouble with someone'.