Let Every Dog Have His Day
Or maybe even two if they've been a good boy or girl
Every dog has his day, in other words, everyone will get a chance eventually.
Even the most unfortunate will get a bit of luck at some point.
And even the most oppressed will have their chance to get revenge some day.
Wholesome, but life doesn’t always work that way, does it? An expression used for positive encouragement more than anything else, “every dog has his day” (and other, similar variations) has existed for a lot longer than you may think.
Dog days are never over
The history of this expression highlights how long humans have kept dogs as pets and been fascinated by them. Taking it by its meaning and applying it literally to dogs themselves, it can’t be argued. Dogs in their domestic form as we know them today started their existence as wolves, bred by humans for various specific functions, before becoming simply comforters and pets in the modern world. From the wild outdoors to the pampered and at times idolised existence they lead, dogs have certainly had their day.
But where did this begin?
Well, according to Dutch philosopher and theologian Desiderius Erasmus (who lived and worked in the 15th and 16th centuries), we can trace this expression all the way back to 406 BC and the Ancient Greeks — well, one in particular. According to Erasmus, the Greek playwright Euripides was killed when a rival (possibly King Archelaus) set his dogs on him. The context of this attack was the struggle between Athens and Sparta, ongoing for most of Euripides life, and he was caught amongst it. This, Erasmus says, is where we get the saying “every dog has his day”, although more likely a deformed version of that back then, suggesting a very literal dog-related day origin.
This theory has never, really, been challenged. While much of the language we use becomes harder and harder to trace back to its origins, due to a language’s natural tendencies to become muddled, morphed and changed entirely in meaning for no apparent reason, this seems to be a rare case of an old romantic tale that is actually true.
To quote or not to quote
So if Erasmus has explained where it comes from, then what about its first uses? Strangely, there are no real accounts of him using the expression himself or giving a direct context to his tale. But roughly around the same time and in the same continent, it was being written down, and by Queen Elizabeth of England, no less, back when she was a mere Princess some time in the early 1500s (published later in 1550):
Notwithstanding, as a dog hath a day, so may I perchance have time to declare it in deeds.
The way this is written suggests it was a well known and oft used phrase at the time, as opposed to something a young Princess just made up herself. The timescales also overlap with Erasmus, who died in 1536, suggesting he was pursuing the origins of an established expression as opposed to something niche or new.
We see another example of this with William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, written between 1599 and 1601. In a tense scene between the titular character and a rival Laertes, Hamlet says:
Let Hercules himself do what he may,
The cat will mew and dog will have his day.
He used the expression here in the context of getting revenge. He is a lowly individual (in his own eyes) who will get the justice he deserves, and this is our first clear example in context of the phrase operating with the same meaning it still holds today.
Beyond this, “every dog has his/its day” appeared in dictionaries, books of proverbs and has been cemented more than any other in history. The sheer volume of historical powerhouses who have used this expression might help us understand why it is still in use all these years later, with its popularity and notoriety allowing it to find a firm place in text.
One variation is that “every dog has his day, but every cat has his four o’clock” meaning not everyone is due their success at the same time or frequency as others. Patience is required. The more cynical modern day alternative tells you you’ll get your “fifteen minutes of fame” and nothing more.
Suddenly these dog days don’t sound so bad…
* * *
Sources
About the Creator
R P Gibson
British writer of history, humour and occasional other stuff. I'll never use a semi-colon and you can't make me. More here - https://linktr.ee/rpgibson
Keep reading
More stories from R P Gibson and writers in Education and other communities.
Fill Your Boots With Anything You Like
To fill one’s boots is to take as much of something as you want, such as when dinner is served at an all you can eat buffet. You’d ‘fill your boots’ (often said as ‘fill yer boots’) and take as much as you want — help yourself — don’t hold back, and so on. Basically, it is both a phrase of encouragement and an invitation to over indulge.
By R P Gibson2 years ago in Education
Jules Verne's Technological Predictions
Jules Verne's Technological Prophesies: A Journey Through Past, Present, and Future Introduction Jules Verne, the visionary French author of the 19th century, captivated readers with his extraordinary tales of adventure and exploration. But beyond the excitement of his narratives, Verne's works often contained startlingly accurate predictions of future technology. From submarines to space travel, Verne's imagination seemed to leapfrog his era, foreseeing advancements that would only come to fruition decades later. In this article, we embark on a journey through Verne's technological predictions, exploring their origins, their accuracy, and their enduring impact on science fiction and innovation.
By Helio Armandoabout 10 hours ago in Education
Managing Prospects and Difficulties
The digital era has significantly altered practically every area of our lives in the quickly changing world we live in today, and education is no exception. The introduction of technology has completely changed the face of education, presenting teachers, students, and parents with equally thrilling potential and intimidating problems. In this blog post, we'll examine how education is changing in the digital age and talk about how to take advantage of the benefits and overcome the difficulties it brings.
By shivam shakya2 days ago in Education
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.