Words & TermsPolitics and public life
drover's dog
A supposedly unbeatable political candidate, from the saying that even a drover's dog could win under favourable conditions.
In a sentence
In this historical or contextual use, “drover's dog” means a supposedly unbeatable political candidate, from the saying that even a drover's dog could win under favourable conditions.
Where it came from
The expression became durable Australian political shorthand through election commentary.
- First recorded
- 1850s
- Initial era
- 1850–1899
- Where used
- Australian use; no narrower regional pattern established