dog-roll: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / NicheInternet slang, informal, primarily used in political commentary and social media circles.
Quick answer
What does “dog-roll” mean?
A specific, often humorous situation where an Internet meme (originally a photograph of a dog) is used to divert or distract from a topic, particularly in online political or social media discourse.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific, often humorous situation where an Internet meme (originally a photograph of a dog) is used to divert or distract from a topic, particularly in online political or social media discourse.
The act of deploying an incongruous or whimsical image, often of a dog, to derail a serious online conversation, especially to deflect criticism or avoid addressing a contentious issue. By extension, any tactic of using absurdist humor to change the subject.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Usage is equally niche in both varieties, largely confined to online political journalism and commentary.
Connotations
Carries connotations of modern, disingenuous political spin, digital distraction, and Internet culture.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general usage; appears almost exclusively in meta-commentary about online discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “dog-roll” in a Sentence
[Subject] dog-rolled [the audience] (with [meme/image])The [response/reaction] was a blatant dog-roll.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dog-roll” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The MP's team attempted to dog-roll the interview after the difficult question about expenses.
American English
- The campaign manager advised them to dog-roll the negative coverage by posting the old photo.
adjective
British English
- It was a dog-roll moment that typified the online debate.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Potentially used in media studies, political communication, or digital culture papers to describe a specific online phenomenon.
Everyday
Virtually never used in spoken everyday conversation.
Technical
Used as a technical term in online discourse analysis and political communication circles.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dog-roll”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dog-roll”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dog-roll”
- Using it to refer to a dog literally rolling over.
- Assuming it has any meaning outside its specific Internet culture context.
- Capitalising it inconsistently (often written as 'Dog-Roll' or 'dogroll').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It originated from a 2021 incident in UK politics where a photo of a dog was posted by a government official during a time of significant criticism, interpreted by many as a deliberate distraction.
No, it is informal Internet slang, though it is sometimes used descriptively in political journalism to label a specific tactic.
Yes, in its niche context, it can be used verbally (e.g., 'to dog-roll the conversation').
Only historically. The original meme featured a dog. The term now metaphorically represents the tactic, though the distracting content can be any incongruous, often humorous, image or topic.
A specific, often humorous situation where an Internet meme (originally a photograph of a dog) is used to divert or distract from a topic, particularly in online political or social media discourse.
Dog-roll: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɒɡ ˌrəʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɔːɡ ˌroʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To pull a dog-roll on someone.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a politician rolling a ball to a dog to distract it from chewing the furniture. The 'dog-roll' distracts the online crowd.
Conceptual Metaphor
SERIOUS DISCOURSE IS A PREDICTABLE PATH / DISRUPTION IS THROWING AN OBJECT FOR A DOG TO CHASE.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary context for using the term 'dog-roll'?