What is the meaning and origin of "hangdog expression"?
(Athiya Fathima, Chennai)
Sometimes we do things we know that we are not supposed to. As kids, our parents kept telling us, "Don't do this" and "Don't do that". But did we listen? No way! We went ahead and did what we wanted to because we thought we knew better. There were times when we got caught doing the wrong thing, and when this happened what was the expression on our face? It was one of guilt. The term "hangdog" is normally used to refer to one's expression; an expression that suggests that one is ashamed of what one has done. Here are a few examples.
*When Kanthi was arrested, she had a hangdog expression about her.
*The hangdog air suggested that she had done something seriously wrong.
During medieval times, it was common practice among Europeans to put not only human beings on trial, but also animals. Whenever an animal did something wrong, it was put on trial and if found guilty it was sentenced to die by "hanging". For example, if a dog bit a man and he died of rabies, the dog was put on trial for murder. In 1487 in France, beetles were formally charged for destroying a vineyard! The expression "hangdog" was initially used to describe the look on someone's face who was considered fit to be hanged, like a dog, for his crimes. Nowadays, the word is being used to mean "shamefaced".
S. UPENDRAN
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