Have you ever heard the term ‘hair of the dog’ used in everyday conversation and thought about what it might mean? We are going to take a look at the meaning of the term, where it first came from, and also how we can use it in our conversations.
Hair of the Dog
“Hair of the Dog” Meaning
When someone uses the term ‘hair of the dog’ they are referring to having another alcoholic drink in order to cure a hangover, the full saying is ‘the hair of the dog that bit you.’ This refers to the fact that something that made you feel bad, will also help you to feel better.
Origin of this idiom
The phrase ‘hair of the dog’ comes from a time when people believed the if someone was bitten by a dog that had rabies, they could be cured by drinking a potion that contained some of the hair from the dog that did the biting. This was a belief dating back to medieval times.
“Hair of the Dog” Examples
Examples in Statements
A statement made by someone who needs to feel better after drinking alcohol.
- ‘I feel terrible this morning but I’m sure some hair of the dog will help me to feel better.’
This statement offers advice using the phrase.
- ‘If your head hurts that much from all that wine you drank, perhaps you need a bit of hair of the dog.’
Helpful examples:
- Even a hair of the dog didn’t make him feel better.
- Some hair of the dog would probably make me feel better.
- Red hair of the dog is allowed to brown-nose, lips, and Yanquan.
- Having a cup of tea after you drink overnight is the hair of the dog bit you.
- My stomach still feels wobbly; let’s go over to the pub and have a hair of the dog.
Conversation Examples
If you are curious as to how you might use the phrase ‘hair of the dog’ in a conversation, here are some examples to show you how it might work.
The first conversation is between two people whilst on an evening out.
- Person 1: “Are you going to have another glass of wine?”
- Person 2: “Yes, sure.”
- Person 1: “You’re going to have a hangover tomorrow.”
- Person 2: “It’s ok, I’ll just have some hair of the dog and be ready to go.”
This conversation is between two housemates, one of whom has drank too much alcohol.
- Person 1: “I feel so awful this morning, I wish I hadn’t drank so much last night.”
- Person 2: “A bit of the hair of the dog will sort you right out.”
Other Ways to Say the Phrase
There are plenty of other ways in which you can express the meaning of the term ‘hair of the dog.’
Here are some examples of the things you could say.
- Adams ale
- A bit of what ails you does you good
- Fight evil with evil
“Hair of the Dog” Meaning | Picture
Last Updated on January 11, 2021