dog days

plural noun

1
: the period between early July and early September when the hot sultry weather of summer usually occurs in the northern hemisphere
2
: a period of stagnation or inactivity

Did you know?

Idle hands may be the devil’s workshop, but let’s be serious: when it’s stiflingly hot outside, who among us isn’t tempted to shirk work to go lie doggo in the shade somewhere? Such is the desire of many a creature—not just dogs (or lexicographers)—during the dog days of summer. If you’re curious how dogs got singled out in this expression, however, you might say it was in the stars. The dog in dog days is the Dog Star, aka Sirius, the star that represents the hound of the hunter Orion in the eponymous constellation. The star has long been associated with sultry weather in the northern hemisphere because it rises simultaneously with the sun during the hottest days of summer.

Examples of dog days in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Chiefs spent a regular season, especially the dog days of November and December, going through the motions. Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 14 Feb. 2024 There was a point in my high school career, smack dab in the middle of the 2010s—the dog days of the Indie Sleaze Era—where a certain pair of boots became all the rage. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2024 The Gophers have won seven straight games and are looking to use their depth to remain healthy for the dog days of the season come February and early March. Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2024 The real showstopper, however, is the roof terrace, which comes complete with a pool to cool off in the dog days of summer, and offers views that stretch all the way to St. Peter’s—expect Rome’s next-gen cool crowd to gravitate here once the warmer days of spring roll around in 2024. Liam Hess, Vogue, 28 Nov. 2023 Honoring 50 Years of Hip-Hop The annual outdoor concert series at historic Fort Dupont, which this year moved from the dog days of summer to the cooler nights of autumn, wraps up with a tribute to the golden anniversary of hip-hop. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2023 The Disappointments will be allowed to remain at Petco for another month, as its airbnb kennels offer safe, comfortable surroundings during these familiar dog days — and dog evenings. Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023 The tournament starts at the end of the dog days of August, in the lingering heat and humidity of a New York summer. Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2023 In the dog days of summer, local families abound, especially those with young children. Brooke Hauser, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dog days.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from their being reckoned from the heliacal rising of the Dog Star (Sirius)

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dog days was in 1538

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Cite this Entry

“Dog days.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dog%20days. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dog days

noun plural
: the hot and humid period of summer between early July and early September
Etymology

translation of Latin dies caniculares, from canicula, literally, "little dog," from canis "dog"; so called from the fact that they begin at the time when the Dog Star rises with or near the sun — related to canine

Word Origin
The brightest star in the sky is Sirius, also known as the Dog Star. Sirius was given this name by the ancients because it was considered the hound of the hunter Orion, whose constellation was nearby; Sirius itself is in a constellation now called Canis Major ("larger dog"). The Dog Star was regarded by the ancient Greeks as the bringer of scorching heat, because its early-morning rising coincided with the hottest summer days of July and August. The Greek writer Plutarch called this time hēmerai kynades, literally, "dog days"—the days of the Dog Star—and via Latin this phrase was translated into English as dog days.

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