Hello everyone! It’s Tina Mae here to shed some light on the origin of another popular idiom. I’ll be discussing the phrase “Sick As A Dog.” Most of us understand what it implies, but why do we say it?
We’ve all experienced feeling “Sick As A Dog” at some point, whether after a fun Saturday night with friends or just a string of bad luck at a potluck. For the record, I’m not a fan of potlucks. It requires a lot of faith in humanity, which I honestly lack, especially when it comes to others’ kitchen cleanliness. Okay, now I will step down from my soapbox lol.
The phrase “Sick As A Dog” first appeared in print in 1592 in Harvey’s Works, where it was written as “Now sicke as a dog.” This predates the Oxford English Dictionary’s earliest recorded use from 1705.
The phrase has also been used figuratively, as seen in the text “Gannick’s Neck or Nothing” from 1766, which states, “I am sick as a dog of being a valet.” However, this figurative usage is quite rare. In modern times, “sick as a dog” is primarily used to describe not feeling well, being under the weather, or maybe experiencing digestive issues.
The idiom “sick as a dog” dates back to the early 1700s, a time when undesirable things were often compared to dogs. Although people generally liked dogs, they were associated with the spread of diseases such as the plague, which were often transmitted by animals like rats, birds, and unfortunately, dogs.
Throughout history, there have been many phrases and proverbs that highlight the unfortunate state of a dog’s life. Expressions such as “sick as a dog,” “to lead a dog’s life,” and “not fit for a dog” reflect the typical hardships faced by dogs. Additionally, the phrase “to die a dog’s death” signifies suffering a disgraceful or miserable end.
Thankfully, that’s a far cry from the dogs we know today as loving pets and companions. A shoutout to science and modern medicine for making vaccines available, allowing our dogs to live long, healthy lives. Well, that’s all I have for today. I hope you enjoyed it!
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