Lick the dog

Posted by Smokey Stover on June 20, 2007

In Reply to: Lick the dog posted by Thomas H on June 20, 2007

: I asked somewhere about getting out of grogginess after waking up, and I received this answer, as a last advice out of a list of advice: lick the dog.

: What does it mean? I'm sorry if unwittingly I placed a phrase with obscene connotations, but I am just ignorant of its real meaning, and truly interested to find out what it is.

This is a somewhat sly reference to "the hair of the dog that bit you" as a cure or at least palliative for hangover. Take a bit more of whatever alcoholic drink did this to you, and the symptoms you're feeling will subside. This phrase is quite old, and his been discussed extensively in our archive. Type "hair of the dog" into the search box at the top of the previous page.

This treatment for hangover, incidentally, is not to be recommended. The relief is only temporary, and worsens the harm inflicted on the liver.
SS

See also: the meaning and origin of 'hair of the dog that bit you'.