Region: General | Usage example: Between the commute and overtime, it is a dog's life.

It's a dog's life

Meaning

Life that is hard or miserable.

Describes grueling routines.

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Dogs historically endured hard labor, so their lives represented hardship.

Used since the 1800s in English to describe wretched conditions.