What Does “Sic sth on sb” Mean?
“Sic sth on sb” means to order an animal or person to attack or chase someone. It often implies causing someone to be aggressive or threatening towards another.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “Sic sth on sb” is commonly used when talking about commanding an animal, usually a dog, to attack a person or another animal. It can also be used figuratively when someone encourages another to confront or cause trouble for someone else. Understanding the Sic sth on sb meaning helps learners use it correctly in various situations, especially in informal or storytelling contexts.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: sic something on somebody
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to order an animal or person to attack or chase someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Sic sth on sb” is a separable phrasal verb, which means you can place the object between “sic” and “on” or after the whole phrase.
- Pattern 1: sic + object + on + person/animal
- Example: He sicced the dog on the intruder.
- Pattern 2: sic + on + person/animal (object implied)
- Example: She sicced on him without warning.
How to Use Sic sth on sb?
Use “sic sth on sb” when describing a command to an animal or person to attack or chase someone. It often appears in stories, reports, or informal speech. The object is usually an animal like a dog. You can also use it metaphorically when encouraging conflict.
Examples
Imagine a guard dog set loose to protect a property. You might say:
- The owner sicced his dog on the trespasser.
- When the stranger entered, the security guard sicced the dogs on him.
- She sicced her friends on the person spreading rumors.
- The police sicced the sniffer dogs on the suspect.
- He sicced his attack dog on the intruder without hesitation.
These examples show “Sic sth on sb in a sentence” used naturally.
Common Mistakes
Some learners confuse the word order or omit necessary parts. Here are examples:
- Incorrect: He sicced on the dog the intruder.
- Correct: He sicced the dog on the intruder.
- Incorrect: She sicced the on him.
- Correct: She sicced the dog on him.
Remember, the object (usually an animal) should come immediately after “sic” when used in full form.
Differences / Synonyms
“Sic sth on sb” is similar to “set sth on sb” or “let loose on sb,” but it specifically implies a command to attack or chase. “Set sth on sb” can be broader, meaning to direct something aggressive towards someone.
- Sic sth on sb: Commanding an animal or person to attack.
- Set sth on sb: Causing something or someone to attack or confront.
- Let loose on sb: Allowing an uncontrolled attack or criticism.
Common Collocations
People often use “sic” with certain animals and objects. Here are common collocations:
- Dog: The most common animal to sic on someone.
- Hounds: Often used in hunting contexts.
- Attack dog: A trained dog used for protection or aggression.
- Sniffer dog: A dog trained to detect substances, sometimes sicced on suspects.
Real-life Dialogue
Here’s a short conversation using the phrasal verb:
Alex: Did you see what happened at the gate?
Jamie: Yeah, the owner sicced his dog on the stranger who tried to climb over.
Alex: That dog didn’t hesitate at all!
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “sic sth on sb”:
- The farmer _______ his dogs _______ the fox that was near the henhouse.
- She _______ her friends _______ the bully at school.
- They _______ the guard dogs _______ the intruders immediately.
FAQ
- What does “sic sth on sb” mean? It means to order an animal or person to attack or chase someone.
- Can “sic” be used without an object? Yes, but usually the object (like a dog) is mentioned for clarity.
- Is “sic sth on sb” formal? No, it is mostly informal or used in storytelling.
- Can “sic” be used with humans? Yes, sometimes it means to encourage people to confront or attack someone.
- Is “sic” separable? Yes, you can place the object between “sic” and “on.”
