what is the origin of the phrase "the dogs bollocks"?

Answer 1

Dog's bollocks

Meaning

Excellent - the absolute apex. In most other contexts the word bollocks (meaning testicles) is used negatively:

- 'that's bollocks' -> 'that's rubbish'
- 'give him a bollocking' -> 'chastise him'
- 'He dropped a bollock' -> 'he made a mistake'

For reasons that aren't clear, dog's bollocks, which have all the credentials to be thought of badly, are considered the top of the tree. Dog do enjoy licking them of course, but there's no evidence that links the coining of this phrase to that. It is most likely that this is just a nonsense phrase, coined because it sounds good. In that it would join a long list of earlier nonsense phrases, e.g. 'the cat's pyjamas', 'the bee's knees' etc.

Origin

The word bollocks, meaning testicles has been in the language since the 18th century, but didn't become used to mean nonsense until the early 20th century.

The 'dog's bollocks' seems to have originated in Britain in the late 1980s. At that time the scurrilous magazine Viz used the term frequently. For example, they used it in the title of an issue in 1989:

"Viz: the dog's bollocks: the best of issues 26 to 31."

It isn't clear that that is the origin though as Viz's writer's would latch onto any vaguely obscene street slang and print it.

Bollocks has long had street cred as a swearword of choice amongst the English young. The Sex Pistols' 1977 album 'Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols', no doubt brought the word to greater prominence.

Since the phrase came into use some alternatives have emerged - 'the pooches privates' and, more successfully, 'the mutt's nuts'.

Answer 2

The Dogs Bollocks

Answer 3

Define Bollocks

Answer 4

Yeh! That would be because the dog has the life buddy!

Edit... A funny read that Viz The Dogs bollocks... and the pink hard one...

no seriously... it is a real comic for adults! Look it up before reporting me or the guy above!

Answer 5

In the UK the one I've heard is that it's from box sizes used by Meccano in the early 20th century.

Box Standard which became corrupted to bog standard (Normal)

Box Deluxe became Dogs Bollocks (the Best)

Answer 6

Dog's Bollock Syndrome

Dog's Bollock Syndrome can be used to describe an excessive use of technology or visual aid, such as in an enormous use of Flash animations on a website. It is derived from following riddle: "Q: Why do dogs lick their bollocks? A: Because they can". In a technological context, the question could be "Why has the web developer included a three-minute animated intro to this page?", prompting the answer: "Dog's Bollock Syndrome, Mate. Because he can"

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Yes they are right, and we even have a beer and a cocktail with that name as well.