doll's house, a: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1informal, literary
Quick answer
What does “doll's house, a” mean?
A small-scale toy house designed for dolls, often with miniature furniture and details.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small-scale toy house designed for dolls, often with miniature furniture and details.
Any small, delicately proportioned or charmingly neat house. A term used metaphorically to describe a situation that appears perfect but is artificial or fragile.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'doll's house' is predominant in British English, while 'dollhouse' (one word, no apostrophe) is the standard American English form.
Connotations
Both varieties share the same core meanings. The metaphorical use ('living in a doll's house') is slightly more literary in both.
Frequency
More frequent in BrE due to the spelling distinction; the concept itself is equally common.
Grammar
How to Use “doll's house, a” in a Sentence
have/build/make a doll's housefurnish/decorate the doll's houseplay with a doll's houselive in a doll's house (metaphorical)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “doll's house, a” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She spent years doll's-housing the intricate miniature.
- He's not just building it; he's properly doll's-housing it.
American English
- She loves to dollhouse on weekends.
- The craft channel focuses on dollhousing techniques.
adverb
British English
- The furniture was arranged doll's-house perfectly.
- Everything was miniaturised doll's-house small.
American English
- The village was constructed dollhouse meticulously.
- The details were dollhouse tiny.
adjective
British English
- She had a doll's-house neatness about her flat.
- It was a doll's-house version of a castle.
American English
- They bought a dollhouse-scale fireplace.
- The room had a dollhouse perfection to it.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically: 'Their business model was like a doll's house – pretty but not built to last.'
Academic
Found in literary studies (e.g., analysis of Ibsen's 'A Doll's House'), childhood studies, and material culture.
Everyday
Common in contexts involving children's toys, crafts, and describing small/cute houses.
Technical
Used in model-making, miniaturist hobbies, and theatre (scale models).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “doll's house, a”
- Writing 'dolls house' without the apostrophe (BrE) *
- Using 'dollhouse' in formal British text *
- Confusing with 'playhouse' (which is larger, for children)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is understood but marked as an Americanism. 'Doll's house' is the standard form in BrE.
Omitting the apostrophe in the British English spelling ('dolls house').
Yes, it can describe a very small, charming, and neat real house, often in a complimentary way.
It cemented the metaphorical meaning of a home that is a constraining, artificial facade, especially for women, in Western culture.
A small-scale toy house designed for dolls, often with miniature furniture and details.
Doll's house, a is usually informal, literary in register.
Doll's house, a: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɒlz ˌhaʊs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɑːlˌhaʊs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a doll's house marriage/life (one that appears perfect but is constrained or fake)”
- “like something out of a doll's house (excessively neat and small)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A house for a DOLL is small – 'DOLL' reminds you of something tiny.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A PLAYTHING / APPEARANCES ARE DECEPTIVE (The perfect, small world is fragile and not real).
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is a metaphorical use of 'doll's house'?