hair of the dog

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • An alcoholic drink consumed to relieve the symptoms of a hangover: This phrase refers to the belief that consuming a small amount of alcohol the morning after heavy drinking can alleviate hangover symptoms. It is a short form of the full proverb "the hair of the dog that bit you."
Usage
  • The term is almost exclusively used in the fixed idiom "hair of the dog (that bit you)".
  • It is used informally to refer to the act of drinking more alcohol to cure a hangover.
  • Example: "After last night's party, he thought he needed some ."
Examples
  • Noun:
    • "I have a terrible headache. Maybe I need a hair of the dog."
    • "She ordered a Bloody Mary as a hair of the dog to help with her hangover."
    • "His remedy for a hangover is always the hair of the dog that bit him."
Advanced Usage
  • The phrase is a metaphorical idiom. Its usage extends from the old folk belief that a cure for a dog bite could be made from hair from the same dog.
  • It is often used humorously or ironically to justify having an alcoholic drink, especially in the morning or early afternoon.
  • Example in context: "They met for a late brunch, all agreeing that a little was the only solution to their collective misery."
Variants and Related Words
  • "Hair of the dog that bit you": The full, original form of the idiom.
  • "Morning drink": A more general, non-idiomatic term for an alcoholic drink consumed in the morning, which may or may not be for hangover relief.
Synonyms
  • Pick-me-up (informal): Something, often a drink, that makes you feel better or more energetic. (Note: "pick-me-up" is broader and can refer to non-alcoholic remedies like coffee.)
  • Cure (informal, contextual): Used humorously in the context of hangovers (e.g., "his usual hangover cure").
Related Idioms
  • "Take a hair of the dog that bit you": The verbal form of the idiom, describing the action.
    • Example: "He decided to take a hair of the dog that bit him and had a beer with lunch."
Noun
  1. an alcoholic drink supposed to cure a hangover