The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (135 page)

The expression is frequently found in various metaphorical and allusive forms, such as
to return like a dog to his vomit
, as illustrated below. Before 1534 (see quot.), the proverb is used in more or less similar forms in earlier versions of, and commentaries upon, the Bible. The concept enjoyed wide popularity in the Middle Ages. The biblical passages involved are:
PROVERBS
xxvi. 11 (AV) As a dog returneth to his vomit: so a fool returneth to his folly; also 2 PETER ii. 22 (see below).
c
1390
Parson's Tale
l. 137
Ye trespassen so ofte tyme as dooth the hound that retourneth to eten his spewyng.
1534
tr.
Bible
2 Peter ii. 22
It is happened vnto them accordinge to the true proverbe: The dogge is turned to his vomet agayne.
1832
Diary of Late Physician
II. vi.
His infatuated wife betook herself—‘like a dog to his vomit’..—to her former .. extravagance and dissipation.
1981
Shard calls Tune
xvi.
The old saying that the dog returns to his vomit, the criminal to the scene of his crime.
1993
Rotary Club Murder Mystery
44
‘You know what the Bible says,’ Harriet replied. ‘“The dog shall return to his vomit and the old hog to his wallowing in the mire.”’
habit
;
human nature

 
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A gossip carries talk both ways.
1830
Vocabulary of East Anglia
429
‘The dog that fetches will carry.’—i.e. A talebearer will tell tales
of
you, as well as
to
you.
1941
Little Town on Prairie
XV.
So Nellie twisted what you said and told it to Miss Wilder … ‘A dog that will fetch a bone, will carry a bone.’
1959
Devil in Bucks County
II. iii.
All this gossip reminded Shirley .. of the saw
The dog who brings a bone also will carry one away
.
slander

 
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see also
a BARKING dog never bites
;
BRAG is a good dog, but Holdfast is better
;
the CAT, the rat, and Lovell the dog, rule all England under the hog
;
he is a GOOD dog who goes to church
;
why KEEP a dog and bark yourself?
;
if you LIE down with dogs, you will get up with fleas
;
a LIVE dog is better than a dead lion
;
LOVE me, love my dog
;
it is a POOR dog that's not worth whistling for
;
let SLEEPING dogs lie
;
it is easy to find a STICK to beat a dog
;
you can't TEACH an old dog new tricks
;
THREE things are not to be trusted
;
while TWO dogs are fighting for a bone, a third runs away with it
;
there are more WAYS of killing a dog than choking it with butter
;
there are more WAYS of killing a dog than hanging it
;
a WOMAN, a dog, and a walnut tree, the more you beat them the better they be
; also
DOGS
.

 
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Similar in form to the expression
EASY does it
.
1864
Diary
6 Aug. (1949) 429
‘It's dogged as does it,’ says Isabella.
1867
Last Chronicle of Barset
lxi.
There ain't nowt a man can't bear if he'll only be dogged … It's dogged as does it. It's not thinking about it.
1916
Greenmantle
i.
We've got the measure of the old Boche now, and it's dogged as does it.
1942
Death & Dancing Footman
x.
‘If we stick .. they can damn well produce a farm animal to lug us out.’ .. ‘It's dogged as does it,’ said Chloris.
1965
Some Beasts no More
V.
It was Colonel Rodgers. ‘Any progress?’ .. ‘Very little, it's dogged as does it, sir.’
perseverance

 
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