What does the phrase "hair of the dog mean"?

Answer 1

The full phrase is "Hair of the dog that bit you". It is most often referred to when talking about the use of alcohol as a hangover-cure.

Answer 2

The meaning is (usually) take more of what ever it was that made you feel bad (e.g. more alcohol will "cure" a hangover).


The source for this is that long ago (17-18th C.), there was a belief that if a person was bitten by a rabid dog, eating (or somehow consuming) some hair from that specific dog would somehow cure you. This is, needless to say, false. As is the belief that more alcohol will fix a hangover (lots of water is pretty much the only fix, as a hangover is caused by dehydration, which comes on because alcohol is a diuretic).

Answer 3

"The phrase you're looking for is "hair of the dog that bit you," and it is a metaphor for the dubious practice of curing a hangover after a night of heavy drinking by simply drinking a bit more of whatever gave you the hangover in the first place. I believe that most medical authorities agree that this method will, at best, simply delay the onset of a probably even worse hangover. At worst, you'll end up drunk and hungover simultaneously.

While "hair of the dog that bit you" may not work as a hangover cure, it is interesting because it arose as an allusion to an older practice, that of treating dog bites with a poultice containing the hair of the offending dog itself. The metaphorical "hangover cure" use of "hair of the dog that bit you" dates back to about 1546, while the practice of actually putting dog hair on bites is much older (and even less effective)."

Answer 4

I was wondering too when I heard the expression. I looked it up. The metaphore is that the remedy is from the "hair of the dog that bit you" The hair being more ethanol the next morning and the dog bite is the hangover. If somebody does that, they are probably an alcoholic.

Answer 5

The whole phrase is "hair of the dog that bit you"...meaning taking a swig of whatever you drank the night before to help with a hangover!

Answer 6

Having a drink to help your hangover.
It's really "a hair of the dog that bit you" and it it refers to the belief that if a dog bites you the wound will heal better and faster if you place some of the hair from it on the bite.
Oh, by the way it is a terrible idea to have a drink to cure a hangover.Please don't.

Answer 7

An expression in Farsi 'strolling like a dog' approach working rough with a view to make ends meet. A single circumambulation (khora) around Mount Kailas is a symbolic re-enactment of the wheel of life and washes away the sins for lifestyles, thirteen circumambulations purify all past and future karma (handiest after having made thirteen circumambulations can one process the heart of Kailas and make the interior khora. Repeatedly make oneday khoras of Mount Kailas. They also have a specific word for it, which translated approach «walking like a dog». Most effective westerners need three days.

Answer 8

An expression in Farsi 'walking like a puppy' manner operating tough to be able to make ends meet. A unmarried circumambulation (khora) round Mount Kailas is a symbolic re-enactment of the wheel of existence and washes away the sins for existence, thirteen circumambulations purify all beyond and long run karma (simplest after having made thirteen circumambulations can one process the guts of Kailas and make the interior khora. typically make oneday khoras of Mount Kailas. They also have a designated phrase for it, which translated manner «walking like a puppy». Only westerners want 3 days.

Answer 9

Superstitious belief that eating some hairs from a dog that has bitten you will ward of rabies.

Taking a few morning after drinks of the same alcoholic beverage you got drunk on the the night before to offset a hangover. (bad idea)

Answer 10

It is hair of the dog that bit you.

It means when you wake up with a hangover from the alcohol you drank last night, you drink some more to ease the hangover.