| in the doghouse in a situation in which someone is annoyed with you because of something you did. The president's aide is in the doghouse over remarks she made to the press. Usage notes: the opposite is out of the doghouse: She won't be out of the doghouse until she apologizes. Etymology: based on the idea of being punished like a dog who is forced to stay in a doghouse (= a shelter used by a dog), away from people |