An alcoholic drink, intended to cure a hangover. It is mistakenly believed that a small measure of the same drink that made a person drunk will sober them up and cure the drinks ill effects. The expression is also used in other contexts, whenever an additional dose of whatever caused a problem is thought to be an appropriate remedy.
I feel rough. I shouldn’t have had those last six tequila slammers last night. Here goes another – maybe it will be the hair of the dog.
England, 16th century.
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