toy dog
1
3.2
- noun
- /tɔɪ dɔɡ/
:
perro de juguete
- One of Lena holding her toy dog—the picture I remembered from my childhood.
- a toy dog
Examples
-
Many people choose a toy dog because they are easy to take care of.
-
" She pets the toy dog on her desk.
Fiction book (1996) -
He watches the girl play with her toy dog.
Fiction book (1994) -
Squeezed under her right arm was the tiniest of toy dogs.
Blog text (8) -
Someone has already been there, presenting her with a cuddly plush toy dog.
Fiction book (1997) -
If you're looking for a small dog, they tend to have a much longer lifespan than larger dogs (I've known several toy dogs who are 15+ years), so you don't need to worry that choosing one who's not a little puppy will make your time with him or her too short.
Blog text (1) -
The tiny toy dog curled up in her lap while she watched television.
-
The little toy dog followed its owner everywhere, wagging its tail happily.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
An animal people keep as a pet that also helps with work like hunting or guarding
754
1.0
An animal kept at home for company and enjoyment
88
3.7
A child's friendly word for a dog
85
1.0
A smart dog with dense curly fur often kept as a pet or shown at dog shows
49
7.7
A small friendly dog kept as a pet
46
4.2
A very small dog kept mainly as a pet
31
4.6
A childish word for a pet animal that people walk and play with
18
3.0
A small dog that sits on someone's lap as a pet
2
2.5
A small, muscular dog with a flat face and bat-like ears
1
3.4
A small white dog with curly fur often kept as a friendly pet
1
1.0
A dog people keep as a pet or to do work
1
2.8
A very small dog with curly hair kept as a pet that does not shed much
1
4.0
A small, lively dog with rough fur and a bushy beard and eyebrows
1
3.8
A very small dog kept as a pet that often sits on a person's lap
1
3.7
A very small lively dog often kept as a pet
1
2.6
A small dog with a curly coat and a smart, alert nature often kept as a pet
A very small dog with long, straight white silky fur
A small toy dog from Japan that has a silky black-and-white or red-and-white coat
A small companion dog with short black and tan fur and a lively nature
Small British dog with long soft fur, a round head, and a short turned up nose
A small pet dog with long silky white hair
A very small dog often said in Scottish or Irish English
How Small
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a very small dog kept as a pet' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'toy' (used as a modifier meaning small or plaything-sized) with 'dog' (a canine). This compositional pattern (size/modifier + noun) is common in English and cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Toy dog comes from calling very small dogs like a toy—a small plaything—because breeders kept them as pets rather than for work. So today toy dog means 'a very small dog' bred to be a pet.