Meaning & use
on leash
Last updated
UK/ˌɒn ˈliːʃ/
US/ˌɑːn ˈliːʃ/
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
Attached to a rope or chain held by a person, so that a dog cannot run free.
Grammar: Used after the verb be or after a noun: 'The dog must be on leash.'
Patterns
- be on leash
- keep a dog on leash
All dogs must be on leash in this park.
She kept her puppy on leash near the busy road.
The sign says dogs are allowed but only on leash.
Common combinations
- dogs on leash
- The beach allows dogs on leash before 10 a.m.
- keep a dog on leash
- Please keep your dog on leash around the playground.
- on leash at all times
- Pets must be on leash at all times in the market.
Synonyms and how they differ
- on a lead
- British equivalent; use it in UK contexts.
- leashed
- Adjective meaning the same, but it sounds a little more formal.
Opposites
off leash
Word family
Commonly confused: on leash or lease?
on leash vs lease
A lease is a rental agreement. A leash is for an animal.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
'On leash' means the dog is attached to a lead held by someone, so it cannot run free. The other options describe the opposite or an unrelated idea.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “on leash”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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