DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK.

dog ate my homework.: translation

The dog ate my homework.

a poor excuse for something that someone has failed to do on time. (From an excuse a student might give for failing to turn in homework on time. Occurs in many variations.) •

The dog ate my homework, so I have nothing to turn in.

• (Used as an attributive.)

Bob was late with his report and had nothing but his typical dog-ate-my-homework excuses.