Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A Democrat in the US Congress, usually from the South or rural areas, who supports conservative legislation and causes.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[On the model of yellow dog, in reference to the blue dog often depicted in the works of American artist George Rodrigue (born 1944), whose paintings hung in the offices of two prominent blue dog Democrats of the 1990s.]

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Examples

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  • Originally used in the phrase blue dog Democrat, but also shortened to this quite frequently, e.g.:

    "... determined to protect the seats of 'blue dogs' from rural districs who are essential to preserving the party's majority in the House...." and "The NRA loves blue dogs like Boren." (both from Michael Isikoff and Suzanne Smalley, "Obama Gets Gun-Shy," Newsweek, April 20, 2009)

    April 21, 2009