in the doghouse
12
7.9
- idiom
- Informal
:
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?
- 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.
-
Are you in the doghouse?
-
Fine, then sleep in the doghouse.
-
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?
-
The word around here is you're in the doghouse.
-
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
19
6.3
In trouble with someone, often a partner or boss, because you upset them
4
6.2
Lack of public support or approval
1
9.9
In trouble with someone in charge
Antonyms
How Out of Favor
- Informal
1
3.6
- Informal
12
7.9
∞
1.0
362
1.0
77
1.0
Surface Forms
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'.