bulldog
bulldog — noun
- bulldogsingular
- bulldogsplural
1. a stocky dog breed with short legs, a flat face, and a broad, square head.
a stocky dog breed with short legs, a flat face, and a broad, square head.
At the park, Otis kept his bulldog on a short lead near the gate.
pet bulldog on a short lead
The vet told Christopher that the bulldog should not run in the heat.
bulldog + care in hot weather
After lunch, Antonia's bulldog snored beside the sofa and scared nobody.
At the dog show, Eri wiped the bulldog's face before the judge arrived.
show bulldog with its flat face
Min chose a bulldog for the flat because the breed stayed calm indoors.
- English bulldog
- French bulldog
- bulldog puppy
- pet bulldog
- bulldog owner
Grammar Patterns
a/the bulldog
bulldog + owner / puppy / breed
Usage Note
Usually refers to the heavy, flat-faced breed rather than to any short dog. English bulldog and French bulldog name particular varieties within the broader bulldog group.
Common Mistakes
bulldog — adjective
- bulldogpositive
- more bulldogcomparative
- most bulldogsuperlative
1. showing the stubborn, determined look or manner that people often connect with a
showing the stubborn, determined look or manner that people often connect with a bulldog.
The lawyer kept a bulldog expression while the witness changed his story.
bulldog + expression for hard determination
With bulldog determination, Yael finished the climb after the others gave up.
bulldog + determination
The small club gave a bulldog performance against the league champions.
The coach admired Folake's bulldog focus during the last minutes of the match.
bulldog + focus under pressure
- bulldog determination
- bulldog focus
- bulldog expression
- bulldog performance
Grammar Patterns
bulldog + determination / focus / expression / performance
Usage Note
Usually comes before nouns such as determination, focus, expression, or grip. It suggests refusal to give up, and can sound admiring or critical depending on context.
bulldog — verb
- bulldogpresent simple I / you / we / they
- bulldogs3rd person singular
- bulldoging-ing form
- bulldogedpast simple
1. in rodeo sports, to bring a steer down by grabbing its horns and turning its hea
in rodeo sports, to bring a steer down by grabbing its horns and turning its head until it falls.
In the final round, Luca bulldogged the steer in front of a loud crowd.
rodeo action: bulldog + steer
The trainer taught Ishaan how to bulldog safely without hurting the animal.
learn how to bulldog safely
At rodeo school, Anong learned when to jump down and bulldog the steer.
Nobody on our team could bulldog the steer until Otis showed the right hold.
bulldog the steer with correct hold
- bulldog a steer
- bulldog safely
- learn to bulldog
- wrestle down
broader and more everyday; it does not name the specific rodeo technique
- throw down
general and informal; it lacks the specialized rodeo sense
Grammar Patterns
bulldog + a steer
learn to bulldog
Usage Note
Mainly used in North American rodeo contexts. Outside that sport, speakers usually choose a more general verb such as wrestle down or throw.
Common Mistakes
Common collocations
Nouns
- bulldog puppy
- bulldog owner
- bulldog breed
Phrases
- walk a bulldog
- bulldog determination
- bulldog a steer
Etymology
Bulldog is an English compound formed from bull and dog. The breed got its name from the historical sport of bull-baiting, where these dogs were used against bulls. English later extended the word figuratively to describe a stubborn, determined manner, and in American rodeo use it also became a verb for a specific way of throwing a steer.
First known use
1518
1518, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Adjective