Like a butcher's dog

Definitions

• to be well-fed and healthy
  To describe someone or something that is in good physical condition and well-nourished

• to be unsophisticated or uncultured
  To describe someone or something that lacks refinement or sophistication

Examples of Like a butcher's dog

• John followed the butcher around his shop, whimpering and drooling over every piece of meat. It was as if he were a butcher's dog.

  This idiom is used to describe someone who is overly eager and submissive, like a dog that follows a butcher around in the hope of being given scraps of meat. It suggests that the person has become overly attached and dependent on another, to the point of being pathetic.

• Sarah was so desperate to win the lottery that she bought tickets every week for the past decade. She was like a butcher's dog, always barking and wagging her tail at the thought of striking it rich.

  In this context, the idiom is being used to describe someone who is excessively obsessed with a particular goal or outcome, to the point of becoming subservient and submissive. It conveys a sense of pitiable eagerness, suggesting that the person's behavior is both comical and somewhat pathetic.

• The chef was so proud of his assistant's skills that he couldn't stop lavishing him with praise. It was as if the assistant were a butcher's dog, eager to please and grateful for any scraps of recognition thrown his way.

  Here, the idiom is being used metaphorically to describe someone who is overly eager to please another person, like a dog that is eager to earn the approval of its owner. It suggests that the person's behavior is excessive, to the point of being a little embarrassing or even laughable.

• At the charity auction, the wealthy businessman outbid everyone else, snapping up every expensive item in sight. He was like a butcher's dog, barking and wagging his tail at the thought of getting his paws on the latest luxuries.

  This idiom is being used to describe someone who is excessively greedy and materialistic, like a dog that is eager to snatch up any scraps of food or resources that come its way. It conveys a sense of pathetic eagerness, suggesting that the person's behavior is both comical and somewhat pitiable.

• The salesman was Like a Butcher's Dog around the meat section of the grocery store.

  This idiom presents a situation where someone is overly eager and enthusiastic about a particular activity or item, like a butcher's dog who feels exhilarated while accompanying his butcher master around the meat section of the store.

• The football fan cheered Like a Butcher's Dog for his favorite team during the entire match.

  Similar to the behavior of a butcher's dog, the football fan showed great fervor and enthusiasm for his favorite team during the match, making it evident that he is a die-hard fan.

• The salesman was Like a Butcher's Dog around the new product launch event.

  Just as a butcher's dog eagerly follows his butcher master, the salesman was overly enthusiastic and excited about the new product launch event, displaying great eagerness and anticipation.

• The composer composed music Like a Butcher's Dog around the orchestra.

  Just as a butcher's dog accompanies his butcher master around the meat section, the composer was extremely influenced and involved around the orchestra while composing music, exhibiting great passion and devotion towards his craft.

Conclusion

The idiom "like a butcher's dog" can be used in two different ways. It can either describe someone or something that is in good physical condition and well-nourished, or it can be used to portray someone or something that lacks refinement or sophistication.

In the first sense, the idiom is used as a light-hearted way to convey that someone or something is healthy and well-fed, similar to a dog that is well taken care of by a butcher. In the second sense, it is used to indicate that someone or something is unsophisticated or uncultured, possibly due to the association of a butcher's dog with a working-class environment.

Overall, the idiom "like a butcher's dog" can be used to convey either a positive or negative connotation, depending on the context in which it is used.

Origin of "Like a butcher's dog"

The origin of the idiom "like a butcher's dog" is believed to be related to the working environment of butchers. Butchers are known for having well-fed and healthy dogs that assist them in their work, which is where the positive connotation of the idiom may have originated. On the other hand, the negative connotation may have stemmed from the perception of a butcher's dog as being unsophisticated or uncultured due to their association with a working-class environment.

Overall, the idiom likely originated from the observation of the well-fed and healthy dogs that were commonly seen in butcher shops, leading to its use in describing someone or something that is in good physical condition. The negative connotation may have developed over time as a contrast to the positive connotation, reflecting the perception of a butcher's dog as being unsophisticated or uncultured.