Where did this saying start?

With the ancient belief that a dog bite could be relieved by applying dog hair to it. The saying was originally 'the hair of the dog that bit you' Apparently Aristophanes refers to this practice back in the fifth century BC. So the drinker takes a little more alcohol to relief the pain which is caused by alcohol.

"So the drinker takes a little more alcohol to relief the pain which is caused by alcohol."

It worked for me for years. Then, one day...Oy!

quote:

Originally posted by DorianGreyed:
"So the drinker takes a little more alcohol to relief the pain which is caused by alcohol."

It worked for me for years. Then, one day...Oy!

Me too. It worked OK until I was taking the relieving drink to prevent "the pain..."

what is the meaning of the quote hair of the dog?

quote:

Originally posted by Leppi:
what is the meaning of the quote hair of the dog?

It refers to the idea that someone with a hangover, suffering the effects of drinking too much alcohol the night before, ought to take a bit more alcohol in the morning.That drink is supposed to make them feel better. We call that drink in the morning 'the hair of the dog'. It's a 'cure' for hangovers.

This is not completely stupid. Some alcohol may work to reduce the suddenness of the withdrawal, and so the effects of withdrawal.

I always figured the expression derived from the use of a morning drink to ward off delirium tremens (DT's) in the heavy drinker. But I doubt it works as a cure for hangovers (time for some field research? ).

Not recommended for other forms of toxicity. You don't want "the hair of the dog that bit you" if you're suffering from, say, food poisoning, or if you overdid it with the sleeping pills.

The LAST thing I would want when I have a hangover os more booze, even the smell of it is enough to make me puke....(not that I would know first hand or anything! )