Hair of the dog
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
An alcoholic drink taken in the belief that it will ease a hangover caused by earlier drinking.
Origin
This short form comes from hair of the dog that bit you. It reflects the old principle that an ailment might be treated with a small amount of its cause, specifically the ancient belief that hair from a biting dog could help cure the wound or rabies. The English expression is recorded in the sixteenth century and was soon applied humorously to taking more alcohol after heavy drinking. Neither dog hair as a rabies treatment nor more alcohol as a hangover cure is supported as effective medicine.
Research Sources
Variants
- Hair of the dog that bit you
- A hair of the dog
Usage Examples
- He ordered a small beer as hair of the dog, though water and rest would have been wiser.
- The hotel advertised a late brunch for guests seeking the hair of the dog after the festival.
- She rejected the hair-of-the-dog remedy and went back to bed instead.