in the dog house
1
in a situation in which someone is very upset or angry with one for having or not having done something
The idiom "in the dog house" is thought to have originated in the 19th century, when sailors would sleep in small huts on the deck of a ship. These huts were often called "dog houses" because they were cramped and uncomfortable. If a sailor was punished, he would be made to sleep in the dog house, which was seen as a humiliating experience. Over time, this expression came to be used more generally to describe someone who is in trouble or out of favor with someone else.
- I'm in the dog house with my wife because I forgot our anniversary.
- The employee was in the dog house with his boss after he made a mistake on a project.
- The politician was in the dog house with the public after he made a controversial statement.
- The team was in the dog house with the fans after losing their last five games.
- The student was in the dog house with the teacher after he got caught cheating on a test.