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Look for a Dog to Kick

What Does "Look for a Dog to Kick" Mean?

homeidiomsLook for a Dog to Kick
"Look for a dog to kick" is an English idiom. It means "to seek out someone weaker to vent one's frustrations on."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "look for a dog to kick" used in a sentence:
  • Just because you had a bad day at work doesn't mean you can come home looking for a dog to kick.
  • He was reprimanded by his boss, and now he's just looking for a dog to kick.
  • Whenever she's upset, she looks for a dog to kick instead of addressing the real issue.
meaning for look for a dog to kick

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Look for a Dog to Kick" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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