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general::
Phrase(s): The dog ate my homework.
a poor excuse for something that someone has failed to do on time. (From an excuse a student might give for failing to turn in homework on time. Occurs in many variations.) • The dog ate my homework, so I have nothing to turn in. • (Used as an attributive.) Bob was late with his report and had nothing but his typical dog-ate-my-homework excuses.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs