attack dog

IPA/əˈtæk dɒɡ/
IPA/əˈtæk dɔːɡ/

attack dog — noun

1. a canine taught to bite, chase, or restrain a person or another creature when or

1.名詞B1
釋義

a canine taught to bite, chase, or restrain a person or another creature when ordered by its handler — commonly used by police, security forces, or military personnel to guard premises, stop suspects, or keep intruders away

例句

The warehouse manager hired a night guard with an attack dog to patrol the yard.

collocation: attack dog + patrol / guard

Jiwoo trained attack dogs for the military before he retired from the service.

同義詞
  • guard dog

    protects a property by barking and deterring intruders, but may not be trained to attack on command

  • watchdog

    alerts people to danger by barking; usually not trained to bite or restrain

用法筆記

Commonly refers to dogs formally trained by police, military, or security agencies. Ordinary aggressive dogs that bark or bite are not called attack dogs — the term implies intentional training for controlled aggression.

常見錯誤

❌My neighbour's dog barks at everyone, so he calls it an attack dog.
✅My neighbour's dog is aggressive, but a real attack dog is specifically trained to attack on command.
💡An ordinary aggressive dog is not an attack dog; the term implies formal training for a specific purpose.

2. a person, especially a public figure or political spokesperson, who regularly ma

2.名詞B2
釋義

a person, especially a public figure or political spokesperson, who regularly makes harsh, personal, and often insulting remarks against opponents or critics in a public setting — often portrayed as acting on behalf of a group or leader

例句

The senator's press secretary acted as an attack dog against critical journalists.

metaphorical: act as an attack dog

Rafael became the party's attack dog during the televised leadership debates.

同義詞
  • hatchet man

    carries out unpleasant tasks (including verbal attacks) within an organisation, often with less public visibility

  • pit bull

    suggests relentless, tenacious verbal aggression; more informal than attack dog

  • mudslinger

    focuses on spreading personal insults rather than engaging with arguments

反義詞
  • peacemaker

    someone who tries to resolve conflicts rather than escalate them

  • diplomat

    someone who uses tact and careful negotiation

用法筆記

Almost always appears in political, media, or public-relations contexts. The person attacks on behalf of someone else (a politician, a party, or an organisation), not for personal reasons. Frequent in news commentary about election campaigns.

常見錯誤

❌He was an attack dog in the boxing ring.
✅He was the party's attack dog during the election campaign.
💡The figurative sense is used for verbal, public confrontation, not for physical fighting.