National Get Out of the Doghouse Day!
Why do we use this phrase, and where did it even start?
I'm so glad you asked. I'm going to fill you in soon. I have always been one of those people that like to know the how's and why's before I share any information. I have to at least try to dig into the history or facts about what ever it is.
E.g. Why do people say someone is "piss poor" or that it is "raining cats and dogs"?
Those are a couple of fun ones I looked up. You'll have to do your own digging on those and maybe some others.
Now, back to today's fun saying.
"Get Out of the Doghouse"
It is celebrated every year on the third Monday of July.
The phrase is known to be used when someone(spouse, friend, other), is in trouble or out of favor with the other. It is used as a punishment for their transgression. A shaming tactic.
I'm sure we all know what it means or how it is used, but do you know why we say it or where it started?
Would you believe it began in a classic children's book we all know, fairly well, I'd say?
It all started in 1911 in the story of Peter Pan, written by J.M Barrie.
That's right!
In chapter 16, Mr. darling is feeling guilty that the children flew away, and he consigns himself to the "doghouse" or kennel, as is the case in the book.
Quote:
"When the children flew away, Mr. Darling felt in his bones that all the blame was his for having chained Nana up, and that from first to last she had been wiser than he. Of course, as we have seen, he was quite a simple man; indeed he might have passed for a boy again if he had been able to take his baldness off; but he had also a noble sense of justice and a lion's courage to do what seemed right to him; and having thought the matter out with anxious care after the flight of the children, he went down on all fours and crawled into the kennel. To all Mrs. Darling's dear invitations to him to come out, he replied sadly but firmly:
"No, my own one, this is the place for me.""
This may be why we associate the phrase more toward men. Who knows?
This is where the phrase or the idea originated, but the first actual printed "in the doghouse" verses Mr. Darling consigning himself to the kennel; actually can be found in James. J. Finerty's 1926 glossary of the language of criminals, Criminalese, in which being "in the doghouse" is described as being "in disfavor"
Not a big gap between Children's class literature and Criminal language.Funny how that happens.
The next confirmed print of the term is found in 1933 in an Iowa newspaper, Waterloo Daily, in which the "poor French ambassador" is being described as "still in the doghouse."
Books used for references:
I think the phrase has definitely become more popular, and widely used, over time.
We've probably all said it once or twice, whether we put someone there, or were there ourselves.
I hope you've enjoyed today's post and our fun facts about our National Fun Holiday.
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