📚 The Dog Ate My Homework: Excuses That Fail 🔖
Definition and Origins
“The dog ate my homework” is an idiom used to describe a patently false and highly dubious excuse for failing to meet an obligation, often academic. Originating in the late 1900s, this phrase has epitomized the ludicrousness of some excuses. Over time, it has become a part of pop culture, encapsulating the lengths to which one might go to shirk responsibility.
In Pop Culture
This phrase gained notable traction in modern media:
- “The Internet Ate My Brain”, Boston Globe headline for a book review of The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr (June 6, 2010).
- “The Dog Ate My Homework Act”, Washington Examiner column by Timothy P. Carney about a bill provision for late patent applications (March 20, 2010).
Related Terms and Analogous Expressions
- Cat got your tongue?: A way of asking why someone is silent.
- Burning the midnight oil: Staying up late to get something done.
- Crying over spilled milk: Complaining about something that can’t be changed.
- Putting the cart before the horse: Doing things out of order.
- Pigs might fly: Something that is highly improbable.
Synonyms
- Lame excuse
- Feeble explanation
- Far-fetched reason
- Unbelievable alibi
Antonyms
- Valid reason
- Genuine excuse
- Truthful explanation
Humorous Quotes
- “I can’t fall today, the floor will need therapy.”
- “My homework ran away from home!”
- “Sorry, I was abducted by aliens last night.”
Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
- Literature & Books: The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr, How Not to Make a Lame Excuse (fictional).
- Songs: Excuses by The Morning Benders, Sorry by Justin Bieber.
- Poetry: Procrastination by William H. Davies.
- Movies: Excuse Me for Living (2012), Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) – a masterclass in ingenious excuses.
Common Phrases
- My dog ate it.
- I left it at home.
- I lost my notes.
Quiz Time! 🧠💡
Test your knowledge of clichés and famous excuses with these brain teasers:
### Which of these is a classic school excuse?
- [x] The dog ate my homework
- [ ] I was attacked by ninjas in my sleep
- [ ] My cat turned it into an art project
- [ ] My pet goldfish wrote it in secret code
> **Explanation:** "The dog ate my homework" is the quintessential excuse given for not completing school assignments. The others, while creative, haven't reached the same legendary status.
### Which phrase suggests someone is unusually quiet?
- [ ] Biting the bullet
- [ ] Stealing someone's thunder
- [x] Cat got your tongue?
- [ ] Crying wolf
> **Explanation:** "Cat got your tongue?" is used to tease someone who is unexpectedly quiet.
### True or False: "Burning the midnight oil" means to stay up late working.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True. It refers to working late into the night, originally when oil lamps were used for illumination.
You can be inspired every day by the quirks of our language and the absurdities that make it so delightful. Even when life serves you lemons, remember that humor is the sugar that makes the lemonade oh-so-sweet! 🍋😂
— J. K. Jestmeister, October 2023
