ORIGIN

From around 1600, we can thank Shakespeare’s Hamlet for this common English phrase:

Let Hercules himself do what he may,
The cat will mew*, and dog will have his day.

*miauen

Meaning that someone may be enjoying good luck or success right now, but don’t forget that there's always a queue, so make way for the next person.

This sentiment has been expressed for thousands of years. The equivalent proverb in Latin reads: Hodie mihi, cras tib = today me, tomorrow you.

Nowadays, you’ll often hear the proverb “Here today, gone tomorrow”.

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DOGGY IDIOMS

The word “dog” appears in many English phrases.

How many do you recognise?

- It’s raining cats and dogs
- It’s a dog’s life
- A dog is a man’s best friend
- As crooked as a dog’s hind leg
- As happy as a dog with two tails
- As sick as a dog
- Dog tired
- Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself
- Let sleeping dogs lie
- Love me: love my dog
- Lucky dog
- Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun
- Top dog
- Work like a dog
- You can’t teach an old dog new tricks
- Lie down with dogs: get up with fleas

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Practice OWAD in an English conversation, say something like:

“Patience my friends, all good things come to those who wait… EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY.”

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Paul Smith