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The post explores dog-based metaphors for human emotions, mental states and behaviour. It examines expressions such as “chasing our tails,” “barking mad,” “barking up the wrong tree,” and “like a dog with a bone.” It also traces “dogged” perseverance and how Dickens used the proverb, “Brag is a good dog, but Holdfast is better.”
National Dictionary Day is celebrated on October 16, honoring Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary that standardized American English. Dictionaries vary widely in headwords and definitions, ranging from Robert Cawdrey’s modest 2,543-word list to modern editions like the Merriam-Webster with 502,000 headwords, reflecting the evolving nature of dictionaries.
The post explores the use of chicken-related idioms to reflect human behaviors and hierarchies. It connects phrases like “pecking order” and “rulinh the roost” to social structures, while contrasting masculine and feminine traits through terms like “cocky” and “chicken-hearted.” It emphasizes the relevance of animal imagery in understanding human relationships.
On the BBC Radio 4 programme Unspeakable, Susie Dent introduced the Italian phrase “cavoli riscaldati,” referring to futile attempts to revive old relationships. This phrase connects with the English idiom “to boil one’s cabbage twice,” both suggesting stale ideas or relationships. The discussion highlights language learning challenges and idiomatic origins.
The post explores various dog-related metaphors that reflect human social dynamics and hierarchies. It discusses phrases like “dog does not eat dog” and “dog-eat-dog world” to illustrate solidarity and competition. Additionally, it examines expressions involving rank, such as “top dog” and “underdog,” while highlighting the rich imagery derived from dogs in language.
The author reflects on the metaphorical use of dogs in language, noting examples that express human emotions and behaviors, highlighting the cultural significance of these canine-related expressions in English.