WorldAugust 17, 2026

lapdogs

LAP-dawgz

Definition

A derogatory term for people who are perceived as being overly submissive, obedient, or subservient to those in power, acting more like pets than independent professionals.

Etymology

Derived from the 16th-century term for small, pampered pet dogs held in a person's lap, the word has evolved metaphorically to describe individuals who display uncritical or servile devotion to a superior.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe how judges are being insulted by personal attacks that characterize them as spineless followers of a particular political faction.

Retired Judges Warn: Attacks on Judicial Independence Threaten Democracy and the Rule of Law

Read the full article ↗

The Fulcrum

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