I'll let the English majors duke it out over what's proper or not - we're just here to investigate its origins.
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| "Hund im Schnee liegend" by Marc Franz (1910-1911). Public Domain. |
The phrase - an idiom meaning to let an issue rest rather than to stir up trouble by bringing it up - can be traced back to the late 14th century. Oral tradition probably predates its mention by famous author Chaucer in 1374, but his use of the concept in reverse form is the earliest known example in print.
In the poem, Pandarus advises Crisedye, 'It is nought good a slepyng hound to wake.' (Dude had that one right. Same with cats!)
Jump forward 200 years, and British author and poet John Heywood (1497-1580) advises that 'It is ill wakyng of a sleapyng dogge.'
Finally, around Charles Dickens' time, the phrase is ordered the way we use it today: "Let sleeping dogs lie -- who wants to rouse them?" (David Copperfield, 1850).
Three out of three kitties agree: not us!
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Sources:
TROILUS AND CRISEYDE by Geoffrey Chaucer, line 764
The Proverbs ad Epigrams of John Heywood , 1592, page 132
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, 1850, chapter 39
Heavens to Betsy! by Charles Earle Funk (Harper & Row, New York, 1955)
But how about waking dogs up with treats? We're sure that won't cause any trouble at all! ;)
ReplyDeleteUm, so why don't sleepy dogs tell the truth?
ReplyDeleteI don't get it.
And duz this make the Boss a DOG??? Cuz she doesn't like it when I wake her up. Even though I'm just giving her a little tap-tap.
love,
Waffles
LOL and my peeps says it goes for humans at 3am in the morning when I want to chase the fox too. Have a terrific Thursday.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
Maxwell: Uhm, Waff, dood. I'd be reeeeeeally careful about calling Katie a dog. I mean, maybe she's not Marilyn Meownroe or anything, but we hear she's not hard on the eyes either. And girlcats seem awful sensitive about stuff like that. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteAs far as we are concerned, don't let ANY kind of dogs in here! Sleeping or anything else!
ReplyDeleteIt is also interesting how famous authors seem to steal from each other shamelessly! ~ TBT
ReplyDeleteWe say well Humom say's that all the time, I say I don;t want to lie, lets go play ball :) xx00xx
ReplyDeleteMollie and Alfie
Never mind grammar, the story is a good one... I love the painting!
ReplyDeleteWe NEVER let sleeping dogs lie! Mwahahahahahaha!!
ReplyDeleteEsme, Mitalee, Leo, Malou and Levon
from the critters in the cottage xo
We NEVER let sleeping dogs lie! Mwahahahahahaha!!
ReplyDeleteEsme, Mitalee, Leo, Malou and Levon
from the critters in the cottage xo
Awake dogs lie too. They just can't tell the truth. ;)
ReplyDeleteA very wise comment if ever there was one!
ReplyDeleteDidn't think sleeping dogs could lie!!! ?? ;)
ReplyDeleteYeah lets let out a yowl and when they look around pretend to sleep.
ReplyDeleteYesssss