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The Whole World and His Dog

What Does "The Whole World and His Dog" Mean?

homeidiomsThe Whole World and His Dog
"The whole world and his dog" is an English idiom indicating that a large or overwhelming number of people are present or participating in a particular event, gathering, or situation.

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "the whole world and his dog" used in a sentence:
  • At the festival, it felt like the whole world and his dog had shown up.
  • When the famous singer visited, the whole world and his dog wanted to meet him.
  • The announcement of free ice cream attracted the whole world and his dog to the ice cream parlor.
meaning for the whole world and his dog

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 "The Whole World and His Dog" 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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