Idiom meaning, usage examples, facts

1. Frank looked at his watch and realized that he was over an hour late for an appointment with his wife. “I’m really going to be in the doghouse this time,” he said.
2. Dianne used her mother’s car without permission and now she’s in the doghouse.

Compare to: in Dutch; in hot water; all hell to pay. Usually the “someone” in the expression is a loved one and the situation or trouble is not very serious. In Dutch and in hot water are more serious, and (have) all hell to pay is generally much stronger and more serious.