It's a dog's life

Meaning

Life that is hard or miserable.

Usage

Describes grueling routines.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

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

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