摘要：go to the dogs是英语中一个极具表现力的习语，其核心语义为“（事物或人）走向衰败、堕落、毁灭、每况愈下”，强调因管理不善、外部冲击或自身堕落导致的不可逆恶化。这一短语的起源可追溯至16世纪的英国社会习俗：当时人们将变质的食物或残羹剩饭称为“dog'

一、核心语义与起源

go to the dogs是英语中一个极具表现力的习语，其核心语义为“（事物或人）走向衰败、堕落、毁灭、每况愈下”，强调因管理不善、外部冲击或自身堕落导致的不可逆恶化。这一短语的起源可追溯至16世纪的英国社会习俗：当时人们将变质的食物或残羹剩饭称为“dog's meat”，意味着这些东西已失去人类食用价值，仅适合喂狗。这种“从人到狗”的价值降级逐渐引申为比喻义，用于描述事物或人的质量、地位、声誉等方面的急剧下降 。例：

In the 1960s the country was fast going to the dogs.

20世纪60年代，这个国家迅速走向衰败。

The company went to the dogs after the CEO resigned.

CEO辞职后，公司每况愈下。

Their romance went to the dogs when he lied about his past.

当他对自己的过去撒谎时，他们的恋情就彻底完了。

Their courtship went to the dogs because he was always too busy for dates.

因为他总忙着没时间约会，他们的追求关系渐渐黄了。

Their love affair went to the dogs after her jealous ex-boyfriend started meddling.

在她善妒的前男友开始搅和后，他们的婚外情就彻底告吹了。

Their marriage went to the dogs when they started arguing all the time.

他们开始不断争吵后，婚姻破裂了。

The once great city has gone to the dogs, with crime rates soaring.这座曾经伟大的城市已陷入混乱，犯罪率飙升。

The school went to the dogs after budget cuts.

预算削减后，学校质量大幅下降。

The regiment went to the dogs after losing its supply lines.

失去补给线后，这个团溃不成军。

Her social life went to the dogs when she became addicted to work.

她沉迷于工作后，社交生活一塌糊涂。

The politician's career went to the dogs after the scandal.

丑闻曝光后，这位政客的职业生涯毁于一旦。

Bilateral relations went to the dogs after the trade dispute escalated.

贸易争端升级后，双边关系急剧恶化。

二、影视剧台词解析

1. 《纸牌屋》（House of Cards）台词

When I carve him up and toss him to the dogs, only then will he confront that brutal inescapable truth.

等我把他剁碎了喂狗，他才会承认那残忍的真相。

- 翻译：此处“toss to the dogs”是“go to the dogs”的变体，隐喻将对手彻底摧毁，体现权力斗争的残酷性。

2. 《哥谭》（Gotham）台词

This city's going to the dogs and I blame Koch.

这座城市要完了，都怪科克。

3. 《爱在黎明破晓前》（Before Sunrise）台词

Most relationships go to the dogs not because of big fights, but the small, unspoken resentments.

大多数恋爱关系走向终结，不是因为大吵大闹，而是那些细微的、未曾说出口的怨恨。

- 解析：聚焦恋爱关系恶化的隐性原因，用“go to the dogs”概括从亲密到疏离的过程，与词典中“忽视导致关系衰败”的例句形成呼应。

三、2021-2025年考试题目

1. 高考英语（2025年全国1卷）

- 读后续写题目：“Toby狗引发的兄弟矛盾”中，要求考生用“go to the dogs”描述家庭关系恶化。

The argument turned into a screaming match, and from that day on, their relationship went to the dogs. They stopped talking at meals, avoided each other in the hallway, and even refused to share the same couch for their weekly movie night. What used to be a bond as tight as a knot had frayed into nothing, all because of a broken model and too much pride.”

（这场争吵演变成了尖叫对骂，从那天起，他们的兄弟关系就彻底完了。吃饭时互不说话，走廊里刻意避开对方，甚至连每周一次的电影夜都拒绝共坐一张沙发。曾经牢不可破的羁绊，就因为一个摔坏的模型和太多的骄傲，变得荡然无存。）

- 解析：通过宠物引发的冲突，考查该短语在家庭场景中的应用，强调情感纽带的破裂。

2. 雅思口语（2025年5-8月新题）

- Part 3题目：“What is the difference between indoor and outdoor sports?”（室内与户外运动的区别）

- 高分回答：“If a sports club lacks investment, it might go to the dogs, regardless of being indoor or outdoor.”（若缺乏投资，无论室内外运动俱乐部都可能衰败。）

参考答案：

“Absolutely. Community centers are like the heart of a neighborhood—they bring people together for classes, events, or even just chats. But if they’re neglected, say, with no funding for maintenance, they’ll go to the dogs. Without a functional community center, the neighborhood might lose its sense of connection, and people could feel isolated. So yeah, they matter a lot.”

（当然重要。社区中心就像邻里的心脏——它让人们聚在一起上课、参加活动，甚至只是闲聊。但如果被忽视，比如没有维护资金，它们就会衰败。没有一个能正常运转的社区中心，邻里可能会失去联结感，人们也可能感到孤独。所以，它们真的很重要。

- 解析：结合社会现象，要求考生灵活运用该短语分析公共服务问题。

3. 考研英语（2023年阅读理解）

- 文章主题：某传统企业因拒绝数字化转型而“go to the dogs”。

- 题目：“What does 'go to the dogs' imply in this context?”（此处“go to the dogs”暗示什么？）

It means the traditional bookstore is in irreversible decline due to its refusal to adapt to digital trends.（意为这家传统书店因拒绝适应数字趋势而陷入不可逆转的衰败。）

4. 2024年托福写作（独立写作）

- 题目：“Do you agree or disagree that young people’s reliance on social media is making their real-life friendships go to the dogs?”（你是否同意年轻人对社交媒体的依赖正导致他们的现实友谊走向衰败？）

- 参考答案：

I agree. Real-life friendships thrive on in-person interactions—shared laughs over coffee, hugs after a tough day, or even arguments that get resolved face to face. But when young people replace these moments with endless scrolling and superficial comments online, their friendships often go to the dogs. They may know each other’s latest posts but forget each other’s favorite foods; they may “like” a photo but miss the chance to comfort a friend in tears. Over time, the depth and warmth of real connections fade, leaving only shallow bonds.

（我同意这一观点。现实友谊的维系依赖面对面的互动——咖啡时光的共同欢笑、困境后的拥抱，甚至是能当面化解的争吵。但当年轻人用无休止的刷屏和表面化的评论取代这些时刻，他们的友谊往往会走向衰败。他们可能知道对方最新的帖子，却忘了对方最爱的食物；可能“点赞”了一张照片，却错过了安慰哭泣的朋友的机会。久而久之，真实联结的深度与温度会逐渐褪去，只留下肤浅的关系。）

来源：翅膀英语一点号