Ma’anar ƙamus na kalmar “dabba” gabaɗaya tana da alaƙa da wani abu mai mugun hali, mugu ko dabbanci, kamar dabba. Duk da haka, ana iya amfani da shi don kwatanta wani abu marar kyau, abin ƙyama, ko kuma maras kyau, kamar yadda a cikin "yanayin yana da zafi na dabba" ko "sabis a gidan abincin ya kasance cikakke na dabba." Bugu da ƙari, ana iya amfani da "beastly" azaman karin magana don nufin "matuƙar" ko "sosai," kamar yadda a cikin "Na gaji da dabba bayan wannan doguwar tafiya."