I love dogs, as do many. Since we’re now in the waning moments of the so-called “dog days of summer”, I thought maybe you’d like to know where some of our catchy canine concepts came from:
“Dog days of summer”– comes from ancient times when gazers realized that Sirius, the Dog Star, was brightest in the sky. It’s really bright at this time of year. Sirius-ly…
“Three dog night”– one of the great singing acts of the late-1960s “(Joy To The World”, “Celebrate”, “Liar”, “Mama Told Me”, et al.) chose a name that stand out and reflected its three lead singers. But the original concept sprung from Australian Aboriginals, who cuddled with their pup pets when it was freezing; apparently three did the trick. Of course, when temperatures dip, I’d choose three Newfoundlands over three chihuahuas, dog gone it! Especially if I’m “Out In The Country” (for you Three Dog Night fans).
“Dog eat dog”– rather an ironic story… The concept comes from a Latin proverb which extols how dogs, being good-natured, do not eat one another. Yet, English-speaking pundits began using the expression to indicate the exact opposite- that we, as a species, will do whatever it takes (sometimes) in our lust for for power and control. Hmmm… so apparently it’s our species that’s “going to the dogs”.
“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”– this one is over 500 years old and simply wrong, according to dog (and people) experts. We (and dogs) can learn as long as we’re still on the right side of the grass (i.e.- alive). Suggesting that someone is simply stuck in their ways might be more appropriate, which leaves dogs out of stubborn human intransigence.
“Sick as a dog”– how could we possibly know what it feels like to be sick as a four-legged creature who doesn’t speak our language?? This one comes from the early 1700s, when dogs lived outside, ate whatever they could find, often then got sick, and harbored diseases. I guess if you got in trouble back then, you couldn’t be shown the doghouse… because there was none.
Every dog has his day, let sleeping dogs lie, dog tired, work like a dog– wow! For a group collectively considered to be “man’s best friend”, we bipeds certainly have filled our vocabulary with a list of really unfriendly dog vernacular. OK, time to call off the dogs.
Think about it…