'Sick as a...' is a phrase that has been applied to a whole variety of things and creatures...dog, horse, cat, parrot and so on. Even 'sick as a cushion'! These have been around for the past three hundred years.
Presumably, the idea came about because dogs and cats certainly just do vomit whenever their bodies tell them to.
Apparently, horses cannot actually vomit, so 'sick as a horse', strictly-speaking, meant a feeling of nausea whilst being unable actually to be sick. And the 'parrot' connection just came about relatively recently, particularly in circumstances of disappointment in football matches.
and further:
People use this expression to describe someone who’s very sick. It may have something to do with the fact that dogs will eat just about anything – and some of the things they swallow make them feel pretty sick!
I don't feel THAT sick. And I am not dead yet...
Doggy mug for sale now at my etsy gallery...
w.JPG)
9 comments:
I hope I didn't give it to you. I went home Wednesday night after the chapter house and was not feeling well. I'm just starting to get over it now.
I'm on day 11 and my 4th box of Kleenex. I'm sick as a turtle.
sick as a piggy? a newt?????
Horses don't throw up? I wish I were a horse!!!
This mug is really cute...but even cuter? a BEE on the handle. :0
We were both very interested to learn that horses can not throw up! Living next door to these critter (on both sides!) you would think we'd know! They do, however, make some serious retching noises...or maybe they're just sneezing! Do horses sneeze? Hope you feel better!
Miri
Horses don't throw up?!
...the more you know
I, too, did not know that about horses. Interesting. Curious about the parrot, though.
That's why when a horse is sick you have to keep it up and walking. If a sick horse lies down its usually a sign of the emiment demise....I learned that at summer camp when I was 10. :(
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