The origin of the phrase ‘sick as a dog’ can be found in the early 1700’s, when it was common to compare undesirable things to dogs. The explanation for this isn’t that people didn’t like dogs, it is that diseases such as the plague were often spread via animals like rats, birds, and unfortunately, dogs.
What is the literal meaning of sick as a dog?
as sick as a dog
Meaning. To be very sick. The phrase refers to being in a state that is very unpleasant.
Where did the saying sic him come from?
“Sic ’em,” the command to a dog to chase or attack someone or something, has been around since at least 1845. One online source says the first known use was in the book “The Adventures of Captain Simon Suggs” by Johnson Jones Hooper.
What is the saying as sick as?
The informal British phrase (as) sick as a parrot means thoroughly dejected or disappointed (it is not known why parrot was chosen as a term of comparison—see origin). It is the opposite of a phrase such as over the moon; and, unlike the phrase (as) sick as a dog for example, it does not refer to physical illness.
Where did the phrase working like a dog come from?
The term was coined because many dogs were “on the clock” 24/7, hence working all the time and focused on the task at hand.
What figurative language is I was sick as a dog?
Very ill, especially from a stomach malady. For example, I don’t know what was in that stew but I was sick as a dog all night. This simile was first recorded in 1705. Why a dog should be viewed as particularly sick remains unclear.
What does it mean by a chip off the old block?
An expression used of people who closely resemble their parents in some way: “Mark just won the same sailboat race his father won twenty years ago; he’s a chip off the old block.”
Is using sic rude?
Sic – not an abbreviation but a Latin word meaning thus or so – can usefully clarify that a speaker said or wrote just as they are quoted to have done. … The Columbia Guide to Standard American English, echoing Mitford, says the use of sic “may be defensive, but its overuse is offensive”.
Why do we tell dogs to sick?
“Sick,” in this context, had nothing to do with the word meaning “ill,” but rather was simply a dialectal variant of “seek,” which used to sometimes carry the connotation of seeking with the intent to attack. (This sense of the word “seek” was used as far back as around AD 1000 in the work, Beowulf.)
What does my neck of the woods mean?
Definition of neck of the woods
informal. : the place or area where someone lives He’s from my neck of the woods.
Where does the saying Close but no cigar?
The phrase is originated in the United States, likely during the 20th century or earlier. It alludes to the practice of stalls at fairgrounds and carnivals giving out cigars as prizes. This phrase would be used for those who were close to winning a prize, but failed to do so.
Why do people say as sick as a parrot?
To be as sick as a parrot is to be very disappointed or unhappy. It is generally used by sports fans to express their disappointment about their team. … It originated from the deadly viral parrot disease, which was passed on to humans and killed many people in Africa in 1973.
What does let sleeping dogs lie?
Definition of let sleeping dogs lie
: to ignore a problem because trying to deal with it could cause an even more difficult situation I thought about bringing up my concerns but decided instead to let sleeping dogs lie.
What does a face like thunder mean?
Definition of a face like thunder
British. : a face that looks very angry He burst into the room with a face like thunder.
What is the idiom of to work like a dog?
To work very hard. The phrase sometimes implies that the work is demeaning. I’ve been out here working like a dog while you sit inside sipping lemonade.