Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
lame dog

lame dog

8.3
A person who is weak or needs help
  • noun
  • Offensive
translation icon : [término ofensivo para una persona vulnerable o débil]
  • Society should not turn its back on a lame dog just because they are vulnerable.

Examples

  • The charity's mission is to offer hope to every lame dog in need of a second chance.

  • Don't treat him like a lame dog!

  • He was always the first to help a lame dog struggling in the company.

  • He is a lame dog!

  • The organization works tirelessly to support every lame dog in our community.

  • Volunteers are trained to assist a lame dog who requires extra help to navigate life.

  • When a parent loses their job, they often feel like a lame dog and need support from friends.

Synonyms

weakling
vslame dog
  • Offensive
24 4.4

A person who has little body strength and gets tired easily

is about a person who is disadvantaged and needs support not only low strength

Antonyms

strong
∞ 1.0

Having great power or influence over people

advantaged
4.0

People who have more benefits and chances than others

How Vulnerable

helpless
243 2.0
needy
24 1.0
lame dog
  • Offensive
8.3
struggler
1 4.7
disadvantaged
34 3.7
secure
117 3.6

Surface Forms

lame dog singular
lame dogs plural

Morphology

lame + dog

The basic sense 'a weak or disadvantaged person' can be partly inferred from 'lame' (weak/ineffective) combined with 'dog' used colloquially for a person, so a B1 learner who knows both words could plausibly guess the general idea. However the expression is figurative and its pragmatic nuance (insulting vs sympathetic) and the metaphorical use of 'dog' vary across languages and contexts, so the precise meaning and usage are not fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

Lame dog comes from the image of a lame dog that limps and cannot keep up with the others. That's why it is used for a person who is 'weak' or 'in need of help'.