guard dog
20
2.1
- noun
- /ɡɑrd dɔɡ/
:
perro guardián
- Twenty years ago, I started this company with two night watchmen and a guard dog, and now we have the chance to turn it into one of the largest privately-held corporate security firms in the country.
- train guard dogs
And then this German shepherd guard dog that's obviously doing his job.
- And then this German shepherd guard dog that's obviously doing his job.
- Would you just want to be like a chill dog, a guard dog?
Examples
-
I see you've met our guard dogs.
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You want me to be your guard dog.
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Well, if you wanna help me, get me a big guard dog or a gun.
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"See why she needs a guard dog?" Jim asks.
Fiction book (1992) -
If I have an alarm system and guard dog, why should I pay for the cops to protect you?
Blog text (11) -
My dogs were professionally trained as guard dogs and are my best line of defense against a home invader.
Blog text (14) -
Trained guard dogs help protect the sheep from coyotes, bears, and other predators.
Academic text (1995) -
The guard dog barked loudly to alert the owner of an intruder.
-
Many homeowners choose a guard dog to protect their property from burglars.
-
A well-trained guard dog can deter potential threats with its barking.
Synonyms
9
3.1
A dog trained to guard a building and warn about strangers
8
4.1
A dog trained to attack or guard on command
Antonyms
How Protective
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a dog trained to protect property or people' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'guard' (one who protects) with 'dog' (a canine). This straightforward noun+noun composition is a common, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent words will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Guard dog is a dog whose job is to guard a home or property. Imagine it sitting at the gate, barking or attacking when a stranger comes near, so the phrase means 'to protect' people or things.