on the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: on the Internet nobody knows you're a dog
Sense 1
Meaning · English
It is easy to conceal someone's identity on the Internet.
Register: humorous
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
It’s important to caution your readers, however, that they shouldn’t just pluck off an online message and pop it into their story. As they say, on the Internet, nobody knows you’re a dog! A good reporter should contact the person by phone before sticking an online quote in a story—it’s harder for pe
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).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Alternative form of on the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
He sometimes picks wrong battles and chooses wrong targets. An example: a few months ago he led a verbal assault on Silicon Valley for not hiring minorities. Now the high-tech industry, which I know intimately because I’m also somewhat technical, happens to be virtually postracial and postnational.
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 “on the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog” mean?
It is easy to conceal someone's identity on the Internet.
Is “on the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog” formal or informal?
on the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog is generally humorous.