Canada· medium· informal
avoir la chienne
“to have the female dog”
Meaning
to feel a sudden rush of fear
Explanation
In Quebec this means being seized by fear. Curiously, just over the border in France the same words can instead mean feeling lazy or a bit low, so it pays to know which side you're on.
Example
J'ai la chienne juste à penser à mon examen demain.
I'm terrified just thinking about my exam tomorrow.
Origin
Origin uncertain. There's something apt about picturing fear as a dog cowering with its tail tucked in.
Where
Quebec