like a dog with a bone
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Stubborn and tenacious; persistent; relentless; dogged.
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Despite my determination to put the question off, my mind, or sub-conscious mind, like a dog with a bone which it refuses to drop in defiance of its master's command, went on revolving it.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “like a dog with a bone” mean?
Stubborn and tenacious; persistent; relentless; dogged.
Is “like a dog with a bone” formal or informal?
like a dog with a bone is generally informal.