go to the dogs
idiomatic phrase
informal
: to become ruined : to change to a much worse condition
Our favorite restaurant has gone to the dogs lately.
No wonder some establishment figures think the country is going to the dogs.—
Daniel Singer
Daniel SingerExamples of go to the dogs in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Fox will continue to go to the dogs, and cats, and other household and exotic animals.
—Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2023
Still, the docuseries actually operates on various levels, and while its canine star (currently Gunther VI, incidentally) appears to be a good boy, the coverage surrounding him is evidence of how the media can go to the dogs in more ways than one.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 1 Feb. 2023
Without the court’s intervention, the companies all but said that federal trademark law will go to the dogs.
—Matt Ford, The New Republic, 29 Nov. 2022
Many pandemic winners are seeing their sales go to the dogs.
—Jinjoo Lee, WSJ, 10 June 2022
After three weekends of the Big Gig, the Summerfest grounds go to the dogs — and cats — Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. when Fromm Petfest returns to Maier Festival Park.
—Chris Foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 22 Sep. 2021
The future of coronavirus testing may go to the dogs — literally.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 23 Sep. 2020
Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2023
Still, the docuseries actually operates on various levels, and while its canine star (currently Gunther VI, incidentally) appears to be a good boy, the coverage surrounding him is evidence of how the media can go to the dogs in more ways than one.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 1 Feb. 2023
Without the court’s intervention, the companies all but said that federal trademark law will go to the dogs.
—Matt Ford, The New Republic, 29 Nov. 2022
Many pandemic winners are seeing their sales go to the dogs.
—Jinjoo Lee, WSJ, 10 June 2022
After three weekends of the Big Gig, the Summerfest grounds go to the dogs — and cats — Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. when Fromm Petfest returns to Maier Festival Park.
—Chris Foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 22 Sep. 2021
The future of coronavirus testing may go to the dogs — literally.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 23 Sep. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'go to the dogs.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near go to the dogs
Cite this Entry
“Go to the dogs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/go%20to%20the%20dogs. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share