it's the hit dog that howls
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
If somebody is ranting or complaining about something, they were probably hurt by it.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “it's the hit dog that howls” mean?
If somebody is ranting or complaining about something, they were probably hurt by it.
Is “it's the hit dog that howls” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.