Dog-eared
What is an idiom? An idiom is a phrase or expression. They are tricky to understand as their meanings do not directly relate to the individual words used in the phrase.
Definition:
The English idiom "dog-eared" refers to the folded corners of a book's pages. This is used as a bookmark to mark a specific place. It can also describe something that is worn out or used, especially when it looks old or damaged from frequent use.
Origin:
The phrase comes from the idea that when the corner of a page is folded, it looks like the floppy ear of a dog. This practice of folding pages goes back hundreds of years, and over time, "dog-eared" came to describe books that show signs of wear because they’ve been read many times.
Examples:
Today the idiom is used in different everyday situations to express worn out or used.
Here are examples of how the idiom can be used in sentences:
Reading context:
"Her favorite novel was so dog-eared from years of reading that it looked like it had been read a hundred times."
"I borrowed the book from him, and it was so dog-eared I could tell he had read it many times."
Education context:
"My textbooks were dog-eared by the end of the course from all the studying."
"His notebook was dog-eared, showing how much he used it for taking notes during class."
Social context:
"My mother’s recipe book is dog-eared, a sign that she has used for many years."
"The art book on the coffee table was dog-eared, with pages bent from being looked through over and over."
"This page is dog-eared"
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