sick as a dog

S

as sick as a dog

Meaning

  • To be very sick.
  • The phrase refers to being in a state that is very unpleasant.

Example Sentences

  1. You should not go to study with him today. He seemed to be as sick as a dog according to his friends.
  2. No one likes being as sick as a dog, that is why it is important to take care of one’s self on a regular basis and eat with moderation.
  3. Going to that party would mean that you would drink to your heart’s content and come back to be as sick as a dog in the morning. Why do you do such a thing to yourself?

Origin
Dog was considered an undesirable animal in the 17th century. So much so that there are a lot of phrases which refer to them negatively [tired as a dog, dog in the manger, down to the dogs, dog’s breakfast, dirty dog, etc.]. Sick as dog refers to being so sick that one may feel like vomiting. The first literary use of the expression is in 1705. The phrase still reflects in a negative sense as it was intended back then.

Synonyms and Variants

  • Sick as a Parrot.
  • Sick as a horse (when one is sick without the sensation of vomiting).
  • Sick as a cat.

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Just a quick correction: the 1700s were the 18th century, not the 17th.

- Anonymous January 10, 2020

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