Signification
Someone is in a bad state or failing.
Contexte culturel
In Danish culture, there is a strong emphasis on 'ordentlighed' (decency/orderliness). Going to the dogs is seen as the ultimate failure of this cultural value. The welfare state is a safety net, so 'going to the dogs' often implies a failure of the system to catch someone, or a person's refusal to be helped. Danish Naturalism (1870-1900) often used this theme to show how environment determines fate. Used by city dwellers to describe gentrification in reverse (neighborhoods becoming 'trashy').
Use with 'helt'
Danes almost always add 'helt' (completely) to this phrase to make it sound more natural.
Don't use for yourself lightly
If you say 'Jeg er gået i hundene' because you are tired, people will think you are having a mental breakdown.
Signification
Someone is in a bad state or failing.
Use with 'helt'
Danes almost always add 'helt' (completely) to this phrase to make it sound more natural.
Don't use for yourself lightly
If you say 'Jeg er gået i hundene' because you are tired, people will think you are having a mental breakdown.
Perfect for storytelling
Use this when summarizing the plot of a tragedy or a gritty drama.
Teste-toi
Udfyld det manglende ord i sætningen.
Efter han mistede sit hus, er han helt gået ___ hundene.
Den korrekte præposition i dette idiom er altid 'i'.
Hvad betyder det, hvis en person er 'gået i hundene'?
Vælg den rigtige betydning:
Idiomet er en metafor for socialt eller personligt forfald.
Hvilken situation passer bedst til udtrykket?
Match situationen med udtrykket:
Udtrykket bruges om et stort fald i status eller livskvalitet.
Færdiggør dialogen.
A: 'Har du set Erik for nylig?' B: 'Ja, det er sørgeligt. Han har mistet alt og er helt ____.'
'Gået i hundene' passer bedst til at beskrive en person, der har mistet alt.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesEfter han mistede sit hus, er han helt gået ___ hundene.
Den korrekte præposition i dette idiom er altid 'i'.
Vælg den rigtige betydning:
Idiomet er en metafor for socialt eller personligt forfald.
Match situationen med udtrykket:
Udtrykket bruges om et stort fald i status eller livskvalitet.
A: 'Har du set Erik for nylig?' B: 'Ja, det er sørgeligt. Han har mistet alt og er helt ____.'
'Gået i hundene' passer bedst til at beskrive en person, der har mistet alt.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsIt can be judgmental. It's better to use it about situations or third parties rather than saying it to someone's face.
Yes, it's very common to say a company 'er gået i hundene' if it's failing miserably.
It's just a quirk of Danish grammar. Think of it as 'entering the state of being like a dog'.
No, this idiom is strictly negative. There is no 'going to the cats' for success.
Yes, 'Han gik i hundene' is very common in historical contexts.
Expressions liées
at gå i fisk
similarTo fail or go wrong (usually a plan).
at gå i vasken
similarTo go down the drain.
at gå i stå
contrastTo come to a standstill.
at ramme bunden
synonymTo hit rock bottom.
