A doghouse is a small shelter built for a dog to sleep in, usually placed outside in a yard. Traditional doghouses look like tiny houses with four walls, a roof, and an opening for the dog to come and go. They protect dogs from rain, wind, and hot sun while giving them their own cozy space.

The word also appears in a common expression: when someone is in the doghouse, they're in trouble or out of favor with someone else. If you forgot your best friend's birthday, you might be in the doghouse until you apologize. If someone forgets an important anniversary, they might find themselves in the doghouse with their partner. The phrase suggests being shut out of the warm house where everyone else gets to stay, like a dog who has been sent to sleep outside.

The expression is always temporary. People who are in the doghouse can usually get out by apologizing sincerely, making things right, or simply giving the other person time to stop being upset. Nobody stays in the doghouse forever.