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dog's life
01
a miserable life filled with difficulties and misfortune
What is the origin of the idiom "a dog's life" and when to use it?
The exact origin of the idiom "a dog's life" in the sense of describing a life of hardship or difficulty is not definitively documented. It is a long-standing expression that likely stems from the perception of dogs facing difficult or challenging conditions in the past, possibly when they were used for laborious tasks or faced harsh living conditions. While the exact historical origin is unclear, the phrase has been in use for an extended period.
Example
Taking care of her ailing parents and her own family made her feel like she was living a dog's life.
Growing up in poverty, he experienced a dog's life, struggling for basic necessities.
During the peak of the recession, many people were forced to live a dog's life, trying to make ends meet.
Working two jobs and barely having time for oneself can feel like living a dog's life.
The relentless demands of her high-stress job sometimes made her feel as if she had a dog's life.
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