{"id":10169,"date":"2022-11-04T18:33:07","date_gmt":"2022-11-04T18:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=10169"},"modified":"2022-11-04T18:33:07","modified_gmt":"2022-11-04T18:33:07","slug":"sick-as-a-dog-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/sick-as-a-dog-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Sick As A Dog \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Would you like to describe that something (or someone) is feeling under the weather, sicker than usual, or incredibly ill? The expression 'sick as a dog'<\/strong> is a common phrase in the English language that can be used to say this. This post unpacks the meaning, origin, and proper use of the saying.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The phrase 'sick as a dog' <\/strong>is a common figurative saying in the English language<\/u>, though it has been translated to some others including German.<\/p>\n

When someone is 'sick as a dog' <\/strong>the expression is used to imply that someone is very sick, though it does not necessarily imply the cause.<\/u><\/p>\n

The phrase implies that someone is usually temporarily debilitated from their illness, and it is figuratively compared to a sick animal.<\/u><\/p>\n

Most uses of the phrase 'sick as a dog' <\/strong>are within informal speech or social media,<\/u> though the phrase is sometimes used seriously due to its common appearance.<\/u><\/p>\n

Context for the saying can be found from the rest of the conversation.<\/u><\/p>\n

The phrase can be used as a statement, or as a response when asked how someone is doing.<\/u> The phrase can also be used as a self-reference.<\/u><\/p>\n

While not common, the phrase can also be used as the opposite, or to say that someone is 'not sick as a dog'<\/strong> or healthier than others think that they are.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cIf you want to know how last night's date went, it was pretty bad. I had seafood at the restaurant and instead of a great night I just went home sick as a dog.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can't come into work next week. I'm sick as a dog, and the doctor said I have to stay home because of this new thing called COVID-nineteen. I don't know, maybe I'll pop into work for five minutes. What's the worst that could happen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want to get sick as a dog, try the restaurant down the street. If you actually want to have a good date, then try going literally anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don't believe me, eating food that you found somewhere on the floor is going to make you sick as a dog. It doesn't matter if it's been there for less than a few seconds. You'll still get sick.\u201d<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

According to online language resources, the phrase 'sick as a dog' can already be found as a commonly written phrase from the 1700s.<\/p>\n

While spelling of the term varied before the standardization of the language, 'sick as a dogge' would evolve to 'sick as a dog' and continue to be a common figurative comparison in English.<\/p>\n

Modern use of the phrase would continue as a speaking term and reference, and most dictionaries from the 1900s record the expression.<\/p>\n

When someone is 'sick as a dog' then the phrase still implies that they are very ill, either as a self-reference or a reference to someone else.<\/p>\n

Phrases Similar to Sick as a Dog<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • N\/a<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Phrases Opposite to Sick as a Dog<\/h2>\n
      \n
    • N\/a<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      What is the Correct Saying?<\/h2>\n
        \n
      • [Someone is] sick as a dog<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Ways People May Say Sick as a Dog Incorrectly<\/h2>\n

        There are several ways in which someone can misunderstand or misuse the phrase 'sick as a dog', most commonly when the phrase is heard or read by someone who has no prior context for the meaning of the expression.<\/p>\n

        The saying can also be used in the wrong way as 'sick as a dogs', whereas 'sick as dogs' would signify that the speaker means more than one person.<\/p>\n

        Acceptable Ways to Phrase Sick as a Dog<\/h2>\n

        The phrase 'sick as a dog' can be used to refer to someone who is very ill, either as a direct reference or a reference to someone.<\/p>\n

        When someone is 'sick as a dog' it implies very sick, though does not specify the illness and instead prompts the person to ask.<\/p>\n

        A speaker can use 'sick as dogs' to refer to more than one person.<\/p>\n

        The phrase can also be used in the negative form as 'not sick as a dog' to imply that someone is healthier than perceived.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Would you like to describe that something (or someone) is feeling under the weather, sicker than usual, or incredibly ill? The expression 'sick as a dog' is a common phrase in the English language that can be used to say this. This post unpacks the meaning, origin, and proper use of the saying. Meaning The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10169"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10169"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10171,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10169\/revisions\/10171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}