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Origins of Phrases - Dog sayings
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"The dog days of summer" This phrase has nothing to do with
dogs laying around in the heat. It originated in
ancient Greece and refers to a period in July,
when the star Sirius rises with the sun. Sirius is part of
the constellation Canis Major, which in Latin means "the
greater dog".
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"Three dog night" This expression originated
as a type of nightly temperature gauge. Before modern
heating systems, dogs and owners would huddle together for
warmth. On mildly cold nights, one dog would be called to
the owner's bed. A bitterly cold night called for three dogs
to keep the owner from freezing to death, making it a three
dog night.
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"Every dog has its day" The origins date
back to the time of Greek biographer Plutarch, who wrote
"Even a dog gets his revenge". This was most likely a
reference to the death of the playwright Euripides, who was
killed when a rival sent his dogs to attack him.
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"Raining cats and dogs" One possible origin
of this phrase is Norse mythology, when dogs were attendants
to Odin, the god of storms. Another possibility is that it's
from the 16th century, when dogs and cats would find warmth
and refuge in thatched roofs. During heavy rain, the animals
would slip and fall off the roof, so it would appear to be
raining cats and dogs.
- "Happy Dogs" Dogs are much happier
with the
"Pet
Harmonizer" |
