Save A Dane

Go And See A Man About A Dog Meaning: To go away and do other things you have to do; to disappear from view for a period of time. Origins and History: An expression that was coined by Dion Boucicault in his play The Flying Scud (1866) – a horseracing melodrama alternatively titled A Four-Legged […]

Dogwash Meaning: Of minimal urgency; of the lowest priority; virtually optional Origins And History: Said to have originated around 1982 as the last of a list of expressions of urgency with which a certain chance in computer software might be necessary – “Wash your dog first” – but probably also relying on the words additionally […]

Lurcher Meaning: A crossbred dog (traditionally a cross between a collie and a greyhound or deerhound) that was much used by poachers in England in the mid-1600s to catch hares and rabbits. Origins and History: The name derives from the same origin as lurker, and thus conveniently describes both dog and poacher as one who […]

Cur Meaning: A dog of unknown background, but even more significantly, of unpleasant and potentially threatening demeanor. Origins & History: Said to have originated from around 1220 and to be based on the sound of growling – “Grrr…”  The initial recorded version of the word is as a prefix in the medieval English kurdogge (in […]

Dog-Whistle Meaning: A description by political commentators of announcements by political leaders intended to alert subordinates and allies to themes and policies that are about to be emphasized or publicized, without simultaneously alerting political opponents or members of the media . Origins & History: The dog-whistle, which was invented by Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911), typically […]

Dog-Latin Meaning: The vocabulary and grammar of Latin spoken and written from the end of the Roman Empire until medieval times (at which point, in theory, Church Latin prevailed); but also the sort of Latin spoken and written by people from that time until today who have not been taught properly or who are not […]

Rover Meaning: One who roves or wanders – the classic name for a dog for at least thirty years from the 1920s. Origins & History: To “rove” was apparently coined with its current meaning in around 1536; however, by 1607 it had become an archery term, and to “rove” was to shoot at a randomly […]

Underdog Meaning: Someone perceived, rightly or wrongly, to be at a disadvantage; a likely loser or also-ran, who nonetheless has a mathematical chance of winning. Origins and History: A U.S. expression dating from1887, but at that time referring specifically to the loser of a dogfight. * From the book Dog the Wag by Mike Darton