bottom dog: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, somewhat dated, figurative
Quick answer
What does “bottom dog” mean?
The least successful, powerful, or privileged person in a situation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The least successful, powerful, or privileged person in a situation; the one at the very bottom of a hierarchy.
A person or group in a position of disadvantage, often subject to exploitation or unable to change their situation; can refer to the perpetual loser in a competitive environment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly found in British English; in American English, 'underdog' is far more frequent for similar meaning.
Connotations
In UK: stronger sense of permanent inferiority. In US: may sound slightly archaic or literary.
Frequency
Rare in contemporary American speech; low frequency in UK, mostly in literary/descriptive contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “bottom dog” in a Sentence
[Subject] is/remains the bottom dogplay the bottom dogfrom top dog to bottom dogVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bottom dog” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He had a bottom-dog attitude.
- It was a bottom-dog position.
American English
- She felt bottom-dog in that hierarchy.
- A bottom-dog mentality prevailed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might describe a perpetually underperforming department or employee.
Academic
Used in sociology/literature to describe social hierarchies.
Everyday
Informal, for describing someone always losing or being picked last.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bottom dog”
- Using it to mean 'secret agent' or 'hidden leader'.
- Confusing with 'underdog' (which can still win).
- Using in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be disparaging and dismissive, so use with caution, especially about people.
Yes, e.g., 'The bottom dogs of society never get a fair chance.'
'Top dog' is the direct and common opposite.
No, it's considered somewhat dated. 'Underdog' is the more common modern term.
The least successful, powerful, or privileged person in a situation.
Bottom dog is usually informal, somewhat dated, figurative in register.
Bottom dog: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒtəm dɒɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːtəm dɔːɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “from top dog to bottom dog”
- “every dog has its day (but not the bottom dog)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a pile of dogs; the one at the BOTTOM is the BOTTOM DOG, squashed and powerless.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL HIERARCHY IS A VERTICAL PILE/FIGHT; STATUS IS PHYSICAL POSITION.
Practice
Quiz
What is the key difference between 'bottom dog' and 'underdog'?