hair of the dog
Meaning
Alcohol taken to cure a hangover—often meaning “drink more” to feel better after drinking.
Origin
From the old saying “hair of the dog that bit you,” based on a folk remedy: using a hair from the dog that bit you to treat the wound. It later broadened to “a little more of what caused the problem,” especially alcohol for hangovers.
Notes
Mostly informal and often tongue-in-cheek: “a drink to cure a hangover.” It can imply a questionable “solution,” not genuine medical advice.
Examples
-
After the wedding, he swore he’d never drink again—until brunch turned into a little hair of the dog.
-
I felt awful this morning, but a Bloody Mary sounded like the perfect hair of the dog.
-
She knows hair of the dog isn’t a real cure, but she ordered a beer anyway.
-
If you’re hungover, some people say a small drink is the hair of the dog, though it usually backfires.
-
He tried the hair of the dog to steady his nerves before the flight, then regretted it later.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually appears as “the hair of the dog” (often shortened from “the hair of the dog that bit you”). Common pattern: “have a little/the hair of the dog” or “need the hair of the dog.”
Synonyms
- hair of the dog that bit you
- a morning drink
- a pick-me-up (context-dependent)
Antonyms
- go cold turkey
- stay sober