What does the idiom 'go to the dogs ' mean?

Answer 1

Origin: As far back as the 1500s, food that was not thought to be suitable for human consumption was thrown to the dogs. The expression caught on and expanded to include any person or thing that came to a bad end, was ruied, or looked terrible.

Answer 2

"Going to the dogs" means going bad. You would say "Man, that shop has really gone to the dogs - I don't even want to go inside any more."

The expression 'gone to the dogs' means that someone or something exhibits very much lower standards than previously or was expected.

Origin: As far back as the 1500s, food that was not thought to be suitable for human consumption was thrown to the dogs. The expression caught on and expanded to include any person or thing that came to a bad end, was ruied, or looked terrible.

Answer 3

To dog means the same as to hound --- since both are dogs. When a dog/hound/wolf or other canine is hunting, it will stay on whatever it's chasing and run after it until it is exhausted. Therefore, to dog or hound means to stay on the trail, to keep after someone, not to give up until something's done.

Answer 4

This expression dates back to the 1600s - its meaning is: 'a life of misery.' The image is of a poorly-treated dog, beaten and starved instead of loved and wanted.

Answer 5

There is no specific idiom that says "cats and dogs." There are a couple that have those words in it -- which one did you mean?

Answer 6

That a person, service, or product has taken a sharp decline and no longer meets expectations.