alpha dog
2
7.0
- noun
- /ˈælfə dɔg/
- Informal
:
perro alfa
- Instead of the old dog-eat-dog order, with the toughest alpha dog in control of the pack, Merlin introduced a new idea of cooperative equality.
He's going to be this and that and those are the only two ways being an AA dog like Jamal or being an alpha dog who's cerebral.
- He's going to be this and that and those are the only two ways being an AA dog like Jamal or being an alpha dog who's cerebral.
Examples
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She's the alpha dog.
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The Last Man follows the alpha dog, no matter where he leads.
Blog text (4) -
And here they are, folks, a pack of wild alpha dogs at home in their own den.
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While one stated that the teacher "should let the students know who is in charge as soon as you meet them," another recommended to "set yourself as the alpha dog and not let kids run over you."
Academic text (2012) -
Look, if you really want to get your turf back you're gonna have to start acting like the alpha dog.
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- He's the alpha dog, El Gato.
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Technically, G.I. Joe does not exist, but if it did, it'd be comprised of the top men and women from the best military units in the world, the alpha dogs.
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Romney's aggressiveness in the debates was meant as a strong signal that he is the alpha dog, and Obama's hesitant thoughtfulness made him look as though he was being dominated.
Blog text (4) -
The pack follows the alpha dog, who leads them during their daily activities.
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It's crucial for a trainer to establish themselves as the alpha dog to ensure good behavior in their dogs.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A person who guides and directs a group, organization, or country
∞
3.7
A person in charge of a group or place
37
5.0
A person or animal that is the most powerful in a group
21
4.6
A person with the most power in a group
2
4.4
A person or group who is top and most powerful after a competition
2
6.7
A person who is very important and powerful in a group
1
4.1
A person or thing that has the most power in a group
A person who leads a team and makes most decisions
How Dominant
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'alpha' denotes the leading individual and 'dog' denotes the animal, so 'alpha dog' straightforwardly refers to the dominant dog or leader of a group. This pattern (leader + animal) and the use of 'alpha' as a leader label is common and predictable, so a learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Alpha dog comes from packs of dogs and wolves, where the alpha, the top dog, leads the group and others follow. So the phrase is used for a confident person who is the 'leader'.