Definition

1. Noun:
   • Dog and horse: Literally refers to the animals "dog" and "horse". In a figurative and often derogatory sense, it is used to describe people who serve with absolute, unquestioning loyalty, like a dog or a horse serves its master. It implies subservience and a lack of independent will.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Hắn chỉ là tên khuyển mã trung thành của tên trùm. (He is just the crime boss's loyal dog/horse [servant].)
  • Bọn khuyển mã của hắn sẵn sàng làm mọi việc xấu. (His lackeys are ready to do every bad deed.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is almost exclusively used in a negative or critical context to describe servile followers, especially those of a corrupt or powerful figure. It carries a strong connotation of blind obedience and often criminal or immoral activity.

Variants and Related Words

• Tay sai (noun): henchman, underling. A more common synonym with a similar negative meaning.
• Đầy tớ (noun): servant. A neutral term for a domestic worker, without the negative figurative meaning of .

Synonyms

• Tay chân: limbs; (figuratively) right-hand men, underlings.
• Kẻ theo đuôi: follower, literally "one who follows the tail".

Related Phrases

• Làm khuyển mã cho ai: To act as a servile follower for someone.
  • Hắn không ngại làm khuyển mã cho kẻ giàu có đó. (He doesn't mind being a servile follower for that wealthy person.)

Related Idioms

• Trung thành như chó: As loyal as a dog. This idiom shares the animal metaphor but is not inherently derogatory; it can be used positively or negatively depending on context. is almost always derogatory.

1. (xấu) Dog and horse; loyal servants