hot dog
hot dog Lexical Profile
• noun
North American A cooked sausage, typically a frankfurter or wiener, served whole in a long, sliced bun and often garnished with condiments such as mustard, ketchup, onions, or relish.
"We grilled hot dogs and hamburgers in the backyard for the Fourth of July barbecue."
American A person who performs flashy, showy, or dangerous stunts to attract attention, especially in sports like surfing, skiing, or skateboarding.
"He was known as the local hot dog, always trying to land dangerous aerial flips just to impress the crowd."
• interjection
American An exclamation used to express excitement, delight, enthusiastic approval, or success.
"Hot dog, we finally won the championship game!"
• verb
American To perform flashy, showy, or technically difficult athletic stunts to impress onlookers.
"Instead of focusing on a steady descent, she kept hot-dogging all the way down the ski slope."
Word Nuance & Usage
When used as a verb to describe showing off, it is frequently hyphenated ('hot-dog'), whereas the noun referring to the food remains unhyphenated.
Word Origin & Etymology
Originating in the United States in the late 19th century, the term likely began as a humorous or cynical reference to the dubious quality of the meat used in the sausages, jokingly suggesting they contained dog meat.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.