Working Like a Dog – Meaning, Origin & Usage
It’s quite common to hear someone say that they’ve been working like a dog, or that someone else has. But it’s quite an odd phrase, because dogs rarely have jobs. They are more frequently treated as pets rather than trained to carry out specific tasks.
But don’t worry if you’re confused about what it might mean, because this article is going to break it all down for you. We will kick things off with the meaning of the phrase before going into how the phrase originated. When we then come to the usage of the phrase, we will cover how and when to use it, then we’ll be including several alternative words and phrases that you can use in its place instead if you prefer.
And without further ado, let’s get straight to it.
What is the meaning of the phrase ‘working like a dog’?
If someone says that they have been ‘working like a dog’, this means that they are saying that they have been working extremely hard.
The phrase is often followed up with more details, such as whether the person has been putting any overtime in, or working all kinds of hours in order to prepare for something or to complete something.
The phrase also carries a connotation that the worker in question is not being properly compensated for their efforts. They may feel that they should be paid more money, or at least been shown due care and consideration and receive some kind of token of appreciation, whether it be a simple ‘thank you’ card or a bouquet of flowers, or some other small gift.
What is the origin of the phrase ‘working like a dog’?
The reason that the phrase ‘working like a dog’ sounds so odd is because it’s such an old saying, dating back to when dogs were predominantly working dogs, whether they be hunting dogs, herding dogs, protection dogs and so on. During this time, the dogs typically worked every day and did not get any time off. They also worked without pay, and may even have had to make do with scraps of food rather than regular nutritious meals.
This led to the use of the phrase ‘working like a dog’ being used to mean that someone is working very hard, or even too much, with very little in the way of thanks, appreciation or benefits.
It is not known who first coined the phrase, or when it came into common parlance.
How and when to use the phrase ‘working like a dog’?
As the phrase implies, the phrase is often used to refer to paid work or volunteer work, albeit in whatever different settings. That said, however, the phrase could also be used to refer to non-paid activities, such as looking after your children or homeschooling and so on.
Despite the negative connotation of the phrase, it is not considered offensive, so it’s suitable for use in a wide range of circumstances and settings, whether formal or informal, but usually informal.
In a business setting, someone might say that they have been ‘working like a dog’ on a particular project, such as the production of a prototype, product, service, marketing campaign, head hunting efforts, and so on.
Similarly, in a household someone might say that they have been ‘working like a dog’ to get the house clean or get the house redecorated.
It could also be worded ‘I have been working on this project like a dog’ or ‘I’m going to have to work like a dog if I’m going to have any hope of meeting this deadline’.
What to use in place of the phrase ‘working like a dog’?
If you find yourself talking with your supervisor, manager or boss about how hard you’ve been working lately, but you don’t want to imply that you feel unappreciated, then there are some alternative words and phrases that you can use in its place. Here are some examples for you.
- I’ve been working really hard on this project.
- I put in extra hours to get this project completed on time.
- I’ve never worked so hard in my life.
- This is my best work yet, all the extra hours have been worth it.
- It feels like I’ve been working from sun up to sun down every single day.
- I’ve been working so hard that I haven’t had any time to relax.
Final word
So, to sum up, the phrase ‘working like a dog’ simply means ‘working extremely hard’. This typically means working very intensively or putting in extra hours or long hours. The phrase originates from when dogs were predominantly used for manual labour, rather than as much-loved pets and members of the family.
If you are talking with your boss about your hard work, you may wish to avoid using this particular phrase, and to use an alternative phrase in its place, as discussed earlier.
