One of my favourite pastimes, as strange as it may be, is finding out the origin of some of our most common sayings. Even though it’s a tad strange, I find this type of investigation puts you in good stead to understanding what you’re actually writing about when it comes to putting pen to paper, or finger to keyboard.
So we want to kick off our own State of Origin – and no, we’re not talking about football – we’re talking about the origin of sayings and statements. Here’s one to get the ball rolling…
Hair of the Dog
Today this phrase means ‘a small measure of drink intended to cure a hangover’. However, it all began way back when from the medieval belief that when someone was bitten by a rabid dog, a cure could be made by applying the same dog’s hair to the wound. A risky cure indeed, as I wonder how many people were bitten a second time trying to pinch a follicle from the cur in question!
So next time you find yourself a little dusty from the shenanigans of the night before and are feeling the need for a hair of the dog to revive you… think twice or you may find yourself nose to nose with that menacing mutt down the road.
