Whenever people say "puppyish," they are usually referring to a person or thing that seems too young or inexperienced to be of any practical use. This often seems to be particularly true when it comes to people - it's often said that they act puppyish, or can easily be swayed by puppyish reasoning. Puppyishness can also be found in things - a car that seems too young or small for the street can also be described as being puppyish.

The word "puppy" itself has a rather strange history. Originally, it referred to a small animal kept by peasants as a pet.