“Dirty dog” is an English idiom used to describe someone who is untrustworthy or has engaged in underhanded behavior. It can also be used as a compliment for someone who is resourceful. The phrase comes from the animal kingdom and was first used in the 1920s.
If someone is called a “dirty dog,” the speaker is using an English idiom implying that the person being described cannot be trusted. This statement is usually preceded by some sort of description of the ways in which the person in question has engaged in unscrupulous behavior. There is also an alternative use of this phrase which allows it to be used as a sort of greeting to someone who is particularly crafty and sly. The phrase “dirty dog” was first used in the early part of the 20th century and derives its expressiveness from the idea of comparing a person to a dirty dog.
Idioms are colorful expressions that keep speech patterns from becoming too predictable or corny. These idioms, which are generally short phrases whose meanings are very different from the literal definitions of the words within them, can add color and expressiveness to speech. Many of these idioms come from the animal kingdom, as animals have distinct and colorful behavior patterns. One of the most enduring animal idioms is used whenever someone calls someone else “dirty dog”.
In most cases, this idiomatic expression takes on a negative meaning. It implies that the person described in this way did something underhanded or managed to manipulate a situation to his advantage or by somewhat shady means. Consequently, the speaker using this phrase is letting the person know that connivance and intrigue has not gone unnoticed. For example, someone might say, “That dirty dog managed to sneak up behind me to the boss and lie about my whereabouts on my day off.”
There are some occasions when the phrase may signal the speaker’s praise of the person deserving of the phrase. This usually occurs when the speaker has some admiration for the resourcefulness and ingenuity of the person he is describing. In this context, it is often used as a way of praising someone’s unlikely or unexpected romantic conquest. For example, a person might say, “Dirty dog; I can’t believe you have a date with that beautiful woman.
The earliest printed version of this phrase can be traced back to the 1920s. It’s hard to tell how it evolved into a compliment in some situations, but it’s easy to see how it was used as an insult. After all, a real dirty dog brings up all sorts of nasty images and smells, so anyone described like that must be doing something sneaky.
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