- Meaning
- This idiom describes someone who is stubbornly persistent, obsessive, or unrelenting in pursuing a goal, idea, or issue, refusing to let go, much like a dog tenaciously gnawing on a bone. It conveys a single-minded determination or fixation, often to the point of being inflexible or annoying, and is used in social, professional, or personal contexts to highlight intense focus or refusal to abandon a matter. The phrase carries a tone that can range from admiration for dedication to exasperation at obstinacy, reflecting cultural ambivalence about perseverance versus stubbornness. It resonates in settings where dogged pursuit is either a virtue, such as in investigations or advocacy, or a flaw, such as in arguments or futile efforts, capturing the human capacity for relentless commitment. The idiom’s vivid animal imagery underscores the instinctual, almost primal drive behind such behavior, making it a compelling metaphor for tenacity in both positive and negative lights.
- Origin
- The phrase likely originated in medieval England, rooted in the commonplace observation of dogs fiercely guarding or chewing bones, a behavior symbolizing possessiveness and persistence in rural communities. Its earliest recorded use appears in a 1546 proverb by John Heywood: ‘Like a dog with a bone, he’ll not let it go.’ The idiom gained traction in the 16th and 17th centuries, reflecting a culture familiar with canine behavior, as seen in William Shakespeare’s *The Taming of the Shrew* (1593), where characters exhibit relentless pursuits. Its metaphorical use expanded in 19th-century British and American literature, particularly in Charles Dickens’ *Bleak House* (1853), which portrays characters fixated on legal battles. The phrase’s adoption was amplified in the 20th century through journalism and detective fiction, such as Arthur Conan Doyle’s *Sherlock Holmes* stories, where dogged investigation is celebrated. Its spread to American English was fueled by frontier and farming communities, and its global reach grew through British colonial influence and media, notably in Australia and Canada. The idiom’s enduring appeal lies in its vivid imagery, evoking a dog’s unyielding grip, and its applicability to both admirable and frustrating persistence, ensuring its use across English-speaking cultures, from courtroom dramas to family disputes.
- Variants
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- Like a dog with a bone
- Dog with a bone
- Like a dog on a bone
- Tenacious as a dog with a bone
- Examples
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- She’s like a dog with a bone, refusing to drop the issue until it’s resolved.
- Dog with a bone, he kept investigating the case long after others gave up.
- Like a dog on a bone, she pursued the funding approval relentlessly.
- Tenacious as a dog with a bone, he wouldn’t stop arguing his point.
- He’s like a dog with a bone, obsessed with perfecting the project’s details.
- Like a dog with a bone, she clung to her theory despite contradictory evidence.
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