Lapdog Meaning in English
word
ˈɫæpˌdɔɡ
LAP-dawg
lˈæpdɒɡ
LAP-dog
Definition
A small dog that is kept mainly for company and often sits on people's laps; also, a person who always obeys or supports someone more powerful, like a servant.
Usage & Nuances
Used literally for small companion dogs and figuratively to insult someone as blindly obedient to authority. Figurative use is usually negative and suggests a lack of independence or backbone.
Spanish: perro faldero - persona sumisa (figurado)Portuguese (BR): cachorrinho de colo - bajulador (figurado)Portuguese (PT): cão de colo - bajulador (figurado)Chinese (Simplified): 宠物狗 - 应声虫 (比喻)Chinese (Traditional): 寵物狗 - 應聲蟲 (比喻)Hindi: गोद का कुत्ता - चापलूस (रूपक में)Arabic: كلب صغير (حرفيًا) - تابع ذليل (مجازيًا)Bengali: পালিত কুকুর - আজ্ঞাবহ (লোক)Russian: комнатная собачка - прислужник (человек)Japanese: 愛玩犬 - 言いなりの人Vietnamese: chó cảnh - kẻ nịnh bợKorean: 애완견 - 아첨꾼Turkish: kucak köpeği - dalkavuk (kişi)Urdu: گود میں بیٹھنے والا کتا - تابعدار شخصIndonesian: anjing pangkuan - penjilat (orang)
Example Sentences
My grandmother's lapdog sits with her every evening.
basic
The little lapdog followed its owner everywhere.
basic
He was called a lapdog because he always agreed with the boss.
basic
She's just a political lapdog, never standing up for her own ideas.
natural
Don't be a lapdog—speak your mind!
natural
The president surrounded himself with lapdogs who never questioned him.
natural