| If " dog is man's best friend, " then why does our | | | | faces may have also led to such phrases as " you |
| language have so many expressions that portray | | | | ain't nothin' but a hound dog. " We even refer to |
| dogs in a negative light ? English abounds with | | | | our feet as " dogs. " |
| sayings that focus on canine aggression or the | | | | I'll leave out some of the most unflattering and |
| sadness of "a dog's life, " at the mercy of cruel | | | | offensive comparisons of women to female dogs, |
| human "masters. " Many of these date from past | | | | but must point out that whoever decided that a |
| centuries when life in English-speaking nations was | | | | homely girl was " a real dog " certainly didn't have |
| truly more harsh than it is today, and little thought | | | | a very high opinion of dogs' facial features. There |
| was given to animal suffering. It's interesting to | | | | is also the " dog-eared " book, which presents an |
| examine our myriad dog references in everyday | | | | apt image of something with tattered, uneven |
| sayings from the past, and to appreciate | | | | edges. |
| whatever advances human society has made | | | | Other imagery that refers to the dog's physical |
| since then in its treatment of other creatures. | | | | appearance or behaviors includes " don't get your |
| Let's begin with metaphors of aggression which | | | | hackles up " or telling someone to " stop your |
| stem, no doubt, from behaviors observed in a | | | | whimpering " or accusing someone of being a " |
| "pack of wild dogs " (which is itself a commonly | | | | lapdog. " The term " mutt " oddly mixes a |
| used expression) and from the barbaric practices | | | | scurrilous questioning of a dog's lineage with a |
| of people who engaged in the so-called sport of | | | | more affectionate connotation of loveableness. |
| dog fighting. Examples that jump to mind include " | | | | Interestingly, the term for steamy hot summer |
| barking mad, " "his bark is worse than his bite " | | | | weather, the " dog days, " didn't originate with the |
| and the nickname " mad dog. " Who wouldn't | | | | cruel treatment of dogs, but rather with the |
| heed the warning inherent in the phrase " once | | | | position of the " dog star " Sirius or Canis Major |
| bitten, twice shy ? " In any dog fight there's | | | | (big dog), which happens to be the brightest star |
| bound to be a " top dog " and an " underdog, " | | | | in the night sky during summer months in the |
| while " it's a dog eat dog world " brings a | | | | northern hemisphere. Speaking of natural cycles |
| particularly vivid and gruesome image to mind. We | | | | of seasons and weather, we also have " It's |
| even evoke images of interspecies animosity in | | | | raining cats and dogs " and the exclamation " hot |
| such phrases as " fighting like cats and dogs. " | | | | dog ! " |
| Humans have too often been instrumental in | | | | Some sayings, though, focus on a possibly more |
| forcing dogs to hone their aggression and fighting | | | | admirable quality that some dogs possess, their " |
| instincts, training them for dogfights or to be used | | | | doggedness. " You might " hound " someone or |
| as guard dogs or attack dogs. Certain people still | | | | have a " nose like a bloodhound, " but it could |
| use dobermans and pit bull terriers as dubious | | | | ultimately lead you to erroneously be " barking up |
| extensions of their own masculinity, parading | | | | the wrong tree . " |
| them around to impress or intimidate others. | | | | Finally, there are those expressions that focus on |
| It is therefore fitting to next discuss expressions | | | | canine offspring, from the desirable " pick of the |
| that compare human circumstances in life to the | | | | litter " to the disadvantaged " runt of the litter. " |
| sadness expressed in " it's a dog's life. " You might | | | | These inevitably lead me to perhaps the |
| be feeling " dog tired " or be " in the doghouse " | | | | sweetest of all dog-related metaphors, " puppy |
| for something stupid that you've done, which | | | | love. " Oh well, I guess it's time to wrap up this |
| night lead you to wear a " hangdog expression. " | | | | insightful look at dog sayings and metaphors in our |
| This sad sack quality that some dogs have in their | | | | culture. " Doggone it ! |