Cool MateDesert vs Toss him to the dogs
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Desert
Beyond 10,000 (less common)A2noun
Toss him to the dogs
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Desert
| Desert | Toss him to the dogs | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdezət/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdezərt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //tɒs hɪm tə ðə dɒɡz//🇺🇸 //tɔs hɪm tə ðə dɔɡz// |
| Meaning | A large area with very little water and few plants, usually sandy. | To give someone up to danger or neglect. |
| Example | The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world. | He felt his colleagues would just toss him to the dogs during the crisis. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | arid, barren, dry, become, turn into, turn to, stretch, area, country, land, across the desert, through the desert, in the desert | toss someone aside, toss to danger, toss into neglect |
| Antonyms | oasis, jungle, forest | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'dessert', the sweet course after a meal., Using 'desert' in a plural form incorrectly., Mispronouncing it as 'dee-zurt' instead of 'deh-zurt'. | Confused with 'throw him to the dogs,' which means the same., Using in formal contexts where a softer expression is needed., Misinterpreting the phrase as literal instead of idiomatic. |
| Usage notes | Use 'desert' to describe barren landscapes or to talk about environments like the Sahara. Be careful not to confuse it with 'dessert', which means sweet food served after a meal. | Used in informal contexts to imply abandoning someone in a harsh situation. Not suitable for formal writing or serious discussions. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Desert vs Toss him to the dogs
What's the difference between Desert and Toss him to the dogs?
Desert: A large area with very little water and few plants, usually sandy. Toss him to the dogs: To give someone up to danger or neglect.
Which is more formal: Desert and Toss him to the dogs?
Desert is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Desert: The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world. Toss him to the dogs: He felt his colleagues would just toss him to the dogs during the crisis.
Can I use Desert and Toss him to the dogs interchangeably?
Not always. Desert and Toss him to the dogs are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.