Why do people say "sick as a dog?"

[skygazer]

Dogs don't really get sick that often. What's the etymology of that phrase, does anyone know? Any guesses?

I'm sick as a dog and need entertaining.

[NightWatcher]

1. go eat some grass and puke. it works for the dog

hope you feel better

[skygazer]

2. Well, that was definitely entertaining

And maybe you're on to something. I probably would feel better if I puked. And I'd almost certainly puke if I ate a bunch of grass.

[DBoon]

15. Now try eating cat poop

you will then understand what "sick as a dog" truly means

[MajorChode]

3. They don't get sick very often, but....

they do lick their balls.

[skygazer]

6. Excellent point

I think.

At any rate, that would make me sick. Oh, wait. I AM sick.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

4. for emphasis --

You are much too sick to do the things a normal person does when you are as sick as a dog. Example: "Sorry, but I am not going to be able to come in to work today. I'm as sick as a dog."

http://www.goenglish.com/SickAsADog.asp

[skygazer]

7. But why a dog?

It makes no sense. If we want emphasis, we should say things like, "I'm so sick I'm unable to stand without barfing" or something along those lines. Why bring dogs into it? Whose idea was that?

I'm writing my congressperson.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

8. barf/dog

get it

[bluesbassman]

19. It's actually "Barfolomew"

[elshiva]

5. It's Anti-Dogism.

[justabob]

9. here you go

makes sense...

http://raivynnsroost.blogspot.com/2007/01/sick-as-dog-a...

In America, we might say we are "sick" to describe a cold or flu, while Brits would say they are "ill". In the United Kingdom, the word "sick" typically refers to vomit. To "be sick" in England would mean "to vomit".

If you know anything about dogs, you know when a dog eats something (and they eat damn near ANYthing) that is not good for them, it comes back out in worse shape than it went down. Usually on your freshly cleaned carpet. Or the middle of the couch. It's never pleasant, and I'm sure the dog doesn't much care for it either. (Though many of them will sniff their recent stench wafting ejecta and eagerly slurp it back up .. only to redeliver their payload to another part of the house).

[skygazer]

10. Not only does it make sense

But it makes me feel a lot better.

Thank you - that was very thoughtful.

[justabob]

11. glad I could help :)

I love finding out where those phrases we use all the time come from.

I hope you get over whatever is ailing you soon.

[Fleshdancer]

12. Good question. Also, why do people say "slept like a baby"?

Unless someone was trying to say they woke up every 3-4 hours crying until a boob was popped in their mouth, I really don't see how they slept like a baby.

[kentauros]

17. Yeah, unless they're selling to this kind of person:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FtXf8MGFns

[Fleshdancer]

21. OMFG!!!

[skygazer]

22. Well, now I feel sick in a different sort of way

[elocs]

13. I don't know, but in my neighborhood when I was in my late teens

we guys would say to each other, "You're about a dog", meaning like a schmuck.

[petronius]

14. I always assumed it's because a dog can pretty much puke on command

However, I also think it's because dogs can outdo pretty much any animal in the looking-sad department, and when you're really sick you feel as sad as a dog can look.

On the other hand, cats can out-puke dogs hands-down, and kittens can out-sad-eyes any dog or puppy at least 90% of the time, but no one is ever 'sick as a cat'...

[busybl]

16. once you've seen one puke,

you'll understand/

[Lil Missy]

18. Now that's a good question!

I've had my pooch for 15 years now, and only once has he been "puke" sick.

He was getting a med, for I can't remember what. He started needing to drink buckets of water, and then puked all over the place.

I called the vet, and they said no worry. It's a normal reaction with that med, so just quit giving it to him. Well, thank you very much!

After it made him so sick he puked all over my house! And scared me half to death! I thought he was gonna die.

Series! You NEVER want to get sick as a dog. I was so pissed ..

[old mark]

20. They don't get sick often, but the really look like hell when they do.

They just kind of droop.

And puke a lot.

mark

[Zavulon]

23. For that matter, where the hell does "happy as a clam" come from?

I could Google it, but that would require me caring enough to do so.

[skygazer]

24. Another excellent question and one I've wondered about as well

Clams don't really seem to have any real expression at all so I can't imagine how one could tell if they were happy or morose. Most of the clams I've seen were ones I was eating anyway, and I can't imagine they'd be too happy about that.

[Gormy Cuss]

25. Have you ever heard a clam complain?

Actually, the expression used to be "happy as a clam at high water" unlike clams at low tide.

[justabob]

26. I'm good for google :)

Etymology: based on the full form of the phrase happy as a clam in mud at high tide (= a clam that cannot be dug up and eaten, which therefore could be considered happy)

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/happy+as+a+clam