The above idiom means that everyone gets eventually a chance to be successful at something, sometimes, in his/her life. The phrase even appears in Shakespeare's play, 'Hamlet'. There was also a successful movie with this title. It is said to have been first uttered by Queen Elizabeth 1.
The idiom can also mean revenge. In hebrew this is a very popular revenge saying :(kol kelev ba iomo) כל כלב בא יומו The source in this case is arabic, and the word 'dog' stands for a despicable person whose day of punishment will sure arrive. Strange as it may seem, I believe there's some truth in this rather primitive saying. How come?
Well, I notice over the years, that although I've completely lost touch with people that have done me wrong at one time or another, nevertheless , news about them reach me through all sorts of unexpected ways, as if to notify me that 'justice has been done'.
I never ever rejoice at bad news ( I get sad even when I hear of a captured terrorist being "neutralised"), but being human, I can't help feeling sometimes pleased that things have come full circle. The person who has done me wrong has been somehow punished (or.. perhaps not; if it's a divorce, may be he's happy about it, lol).
Anyway, the mere belief in this kind of saying, sets one free from remembering such a person or having any feelings about him - and that's a big Relief.
Good saying.
ReplyDeleteYes, the word 'dog' fits better in the revenge meaning of the phrase.
DeleteFeeling relief is a good feeling. : )
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Catarina. Relief is a great feeling - one of relaxation and assurance, even happiness that something bad has ended.
DeleteHola, Duta. No se si me voy a explicar bien tratando personalmente el tema que tocas hoy, porque no recuerdo a nadie que me haya deseado el mal o nos hallamos enfrentado, en toda mi vida; y si los hubo, primero el problema será de ellos, y segundo, los tuve que perdonar y pasar página de tal forma que no recuerdo a nadie, y si los recordara ten por seguro que jamás les desearía nada malo, por que no va con mi forma de ser, y por lo que dice un antiguo refrán español: el que desea la muerte de su vecino, la suya le viene de camino.
ReplyDeleteAsí, vivo feliz y en paz con mi familia y amigos, y ¿para que perder el tiempo? en rencores, vendetas y venganzas.
¡Vive la vida y deja vivir! esta es mi filosofía y mi forma de pensar.
Un fuerte abrazo, amiga y felicidades por el tema que has traído porque seguro que va a dar para muchas y diversas opiniones, que ya pasaré a leerlas.
Hi Manuel.
ReplyDeleteI don't wish anyone anything bad. If I get hurt by someone, I do as you say 'turn the page'. However, there are forces above us, the superpower (God) that controls the universe, and this power doesn't approve of evil behavior towards another of His human creatures. Hence, we should be all aware of that and behave ourselves to avoid any possibility of punishment.
You mean justice should prevail? When I heard the girl who harassed me, lost a baby when she was older, I felt so bad for her. However, the thought of this painful time full of intimidation will remain forever.
ReplyDeleteI want to forgive, but sometimes I think a person may not expect forgiveness unless he undergoes a sincere effort to perform “repentance”.
Ooh forgive me, I'm going to far, this wasn't your point. I have never heard the proverb (of the dog)
before and I am now searching for the Dutch version.
As I said, I never rejoice at bad news even if it regards someone who 's done me wrong. I'm also forgiving if I'm asked to and the person apollogizes to me. If not, I go my separate way and try to forget the whole thing.
DeleteBoa tarde. Desejo uma ótima tarde de Terça-feira minha querida amiga Duta. Não conhecia essa expressão. Aqui no Brasil não temos nada igual.
ReplyDeleteWe've probably got it from Britain. Perhaps, Brazil has some similar expression, or not.
DeleteBeing free or letting go of a wrong done to you is a great thing.
ReplyDeleteHow very true, Mary!
DeleteI let it go, don't seek revenge, and that makes me feel free regardless of the phrase:'every dog has its day'.
Duta, it seems that I can only comment as Anonymous for some reason? However, I think the old saying is very well known in the UK.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was at school, age circa 13.5, I saw a lad punching a smaller boy just as I entered the school gates. I intervened, saying to the bully "Pick on someone your own size!"
He said, "OK, me and you, after cricket today."
We stood toe to toe, just the two of us. Cuts and bruises, more on my face than his. We made our separate ways home.
About 18 months later, having left school, I was in Croydon Hospital, bathing my broken and reset right wrist in a large hot wax bowl in the physio dept. I was half asleep as I sat there. Suddenly I felt something touching my hand in the wax bowl.
It was the chap I'd fought with. He'd been working on a metal-cutting guilotine in a factory and he had all his right-hand finger cut clean off. He was touching my hand with the knuckles of his fingerless hand that was also having this wax bath.
I felt shocked and very sorry for him, bully though he once was. This episode fits the "dog day" adage ln a pertinent way, perhaps.
Philip H.
What a story, Philip!
ReplyDeleteI can definitely understand your feelings of shock and sorrow at the sight of that lad's fingerless hand.
I can never feel happy at the misfortune of someone else, even if that someone has once done me wrong.
I'll never rejoice about bad news either, but I understand completely what you're saying here -- and agree!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeanie for understanding and agreeing. That's not simple matter , as some will immediately jump to the wrong conclusion and suspect revengeful behavior.
DeleteI dont wish bad on people, but truly believe that karma will come to those who do bad deeds. So yes, every dog has its day! Janice
ReplyDeleteMy opinion exacltly, Janice. I don't wish anyone bad, yet I believe that bad deeds will not be left undealt with.
DeleteI especially like the relief part - that is good.
ReplyDeleteYes, relef - great word with deep meaning.
DeleteEvery dog has his day but the nights belong to us cats. I had a keychain with some sassy cats and that quote at one time.
ReplyDeleteWe all have bad in our lives as well as good. I am also the sort to feel sympathy for some bad guys. My dad always said except for the grace of G-d, there goes I. The older I get, the more I understand.
Good post, I enjoyed reading it.
We're human, and we all have mixed feelings about good and bad. Age brings with it more understanding, of course.
DeleteThanks for your kind words about my post.
"Only the good die young" always sounded cruel and heartless to my young ears. "Every dog has its day" might be harsh but it is not cruel.
ReplyDeleteAgree. It sounds harsh but not cruel. After all, 'every dog has its say' is just a saying; one 's free to believe in it or not.
DeleteI understand what you are saying here Duta. It is hard to not want revenge especially if one has been hurt by another. I have a lot of thoughts about those times in my head but don't think I would ever act on them.
ReplyDeletebetty
We all have thoughts; turning them into acts - that's another thing. It's not our domain - it's more of in the hands of God.
DeleteInteresting indeed. Karma for those that do evil is often rewarding.
ReplyDeleteI hope not, Margaret. I hope evil is not encouraged by any means.
DeleteWhen reading this post, Duta, another similar expression came to my mind, perhaps you have heard of it too? “What goes around, comes around” is what people often say meaning if someone hurts you, physically or otherwise, that person will one day have the same happen to him or her. Personally, I have never liked this expression and, like yourself, prefer to forget vs. seek vengence.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beatrice for reminding us of this well-known expression.
DeleteI think (not sure) there's a slight difference between the two expressions: in 'what goes around..." - the meaning is you do good, you'll get good in return; you do bad, you'll get bad in return. In 'every dog..." - it refers only to bad behavior and possible punishment.
Oh, I feel I have lost touch with so much going on these days. I hadn't watched anything that won an Emmy this year..which I know has nothing to do with your post.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes revenge still lingers. It's never quite what we anticipated. I do like how you brought up this topic. And the quote too!
How do I start a topic? Usually one thing leads to.. or reminds me of...
DeleteAs for this post, I came upon the first meaning of the adage, and that led me to the topic of revenge.
Boa tarde minha querida amiga Duta. Passando para desejar uma excelente quinta-feira.
ReplyDeleteThanks Luiz for your kindness.
DeleteI would not wish bad on anyone; however, I do think karma will come to those who do bad deeds. So maybe every dog does have its day.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I believe you, Jan, and I think the same as you do.
DeleteTrue. Life is complicated as it is. Bad people make it all more difficult, and there are, sadly ,"too many of them".
ReplyDeleteIf someone does me wrong I just cut them off and never speak to them again.
ReplyDeleteWhat else could one do? Unless if the person tries to apollogize, and you're willing to give him/her another chance.
DeleteI don't now why it's taken me so long to comment on your blog, but I've finally come around. Anyway, I have to say, I remember much more clearly when I've done something wrong to someone else rather than when someone's done something wrong to me.
ReplyDeleteThe good thing about me, is that whenever I have even the slightest feeling that I've done wrong to someone, I'll immediately try to apologize. That usually settles it for me.
DeleteThanks for the post. You can't change emotion but can change thinking and action. Happy Sunday to you.
ReplyDeleteI like that 'change' thing. Clever saying, and I agree with it.
DeleteForgive and be free.
ReplyDeleteWejj put, Sandi!
DeleteIt's 'well put', of course
DeleteI feel like dancing in the street when I hear a terrorist has been taken out. I feel relieved that there's one less evil person in the world. I know you're suppose to forgive everyone; but I feel some aren't worthy of that.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I've misexpressed myself regarding the terrorist. The bottom line is that I feel sad when a human being dies, even if that person is evil. It 's more a matter of education and belief in human life rather than having to do with a specific person.
ReplyDeletei like this quote:) so true
ReplyDeleteI like it that you like the quote and believe in its truth, Kathy. Well, I've based a whole post on it:)
DeleteI've all but given up trying to leave a comment. Patience is in short supply.
DeleteOh, Pauline! Trouble with leaving a comment? I'm very sorry about that. I wish I could help. Thanks for your patience and efforts. Hopefully, it's something temporary with Blogger.
DeleteI like your posts. So poignant.
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
Thank you. I like your posts too and find them very touchy.
DeleteBoa semana com muita saúde e paz minha querida amiga Duta.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI'm with you. I don't rejoice when justice comes to one found guilty. Better to let God even the score at all times.
ReplyDeleteThose who believe in God, know that everything is in His hands; they trust Him to do the right thing.
DeleteI would not wish bad on anyone, I just cut off from that person.
ReplyDeleteYes, cutting off from the offending person seems to be the right move.
DeleteYour posts are always intriguing and thought-provoking. I've heard that idiom and thought it meant: You will eventually get your come uppance. Have a great day, Duta.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda for your kind words. Well, many people are familiar with this idiom.
DeleteHave a great day, too!
I think it's just human nature to want those that have wronged us to be punished. Even as children we always shout "not fair" when we see someone getting more than we do, it's just born in to us. That's hilarious that you believe the person may have been happy to become divorced that way that person didn't get what was coming to them..lol!
ReplyDeleteHuman nature, of course, has the last say.
DeleteAs for the divorce thing, I meant that in case he was happy with it, no punishment actually occured for him.