By MARCELO MODOLO & HENRIQUE BRAGA*
The Portuguese language, especially in its regional varieties, is rich in idiomatic expressions that often have obscure or curious origins.
The Portuguese language, especially in its regional varieties, is rich in idiomatic expressions that often have obscure or curious origins. One of these expressions is “for the dog”, used in Brazilian Portuguese to denote something in large quantity or intensity, in constructions such as: “This month I have work for the dog, I don’t even know where to start”; “The event was packed, there were a lot of people”; “Yesterday it rained like hell, it flooded the whole city.”
But how would dog enter into the composition of an expression indicating quantity or intensity?
Barking and braying on scene: a first hypothesis
One hypothesis for the origin of the expression “pra dog” would be rooted in Brazilian rural culture. In rural contexts, dogs are often numerous and play important roles in guarding property, herding animals and hunting. This scenario suggests that the expression could have emerged from the observation of rural life, where the abundance of something was associated with the need to support many dogs.
Thus, “for dogs” could mean “in sufficient quantity for many dogs”, that is, in large quantities. A similar reflection could be made regarding the formative hypothesis of the expression “pra burro”, considering that both expressions are used to indicate a quantity or intensity (although the use of the latter is slightly more common in some regions of Brazil).
This explanation, however, would have some limitations. There is no concrete evidence or historical records that directly prove this origin. The connection between rural life and expression seems logical, but there is a lack of documentation to solidify it.
Furthermore, donkeys are herbivorous animals that graze, so there would not be much concern about the need to produce quantities of food to maintain them.
The role of dogs in society: a second hypothesis
Dogs have been human companions for millennia and are often found in large numbers in both rural and urban areas. The expression “for dogs” possibly originated from the everyday observation of large packs in urban or rural environments, where the quantity or intensity of something was compared to the significant presence of dogs.
This explanation finds support in Antenor Nascentes, in a book published in 1953. In the entry “dog” by Brazilian slang, it reads: “For dogs, in large numbers like the dogs in the middle of the street: (…)”. As can be seen, the quantitative value of the expression is directly associated with the large canine population that roamed.
Still, it is worth asking: could this possible connection between the numerous presence of dogs on the streets and the idiomatic expression be documented? What wouldn't make this interpretation also speculative? Scenes from a next chapter…
Hyperbolic use of the expression
Idioms often contain hyperbole, a figure of speech that exaggerates an idea to emphasize its meaning. The expression “for dogs” can be seen as a hyperbolic use in which the reference to dogs serves to amplify the idea of quantity or intensity.
The analysis seems to us to be validated from a linguistic and historical point of view, given the documentation cited by Luciana Imaculada de Paula. In an article titled Population control of dogs and cats in urban areas, the author mentions historical records indicating that, already at the time of the Brazilian Empire, the excessive number of stray dogs on the streets of the capital Rio de Janeiro was a cause for concern for the authorities. This is what can be read, according to the author, in the Letter sent on February 03, 1816 by the Court's Police Superintendent, Paulo Fernandes Viana, to Col. José Maria Rebelo de Andrades Vasconcelos e Souza, commander of the Police royal guard.
In this Office, the intendant even asked for the killing of stray dogs in Campo de Santana and other parts of the Court, claiming that their presence was unbearable, as they advanced, bit and tore up the people, in addition to being able to transmit some types of evil. .
Conclusions for the four paws: linguistic formation and social history
“Pra dog”, in Brazilian Portuguese, would be an example of how language changes and enriches itself with cultural and historical contributions. Its likely origin in the daily observation of large packs in urban or rural areas – in which the quantity or intensity of something was compared to the significant presence of dogs – illustrates how everyday experiences influence the formation of these idiomatic expressions.
A more in-depth linguistic analysis, combined with comparison with other Romance languages, could further reinforce the Romance inclination towards the use of these hyperbolic constructions.
This highlights the complexity and richness of the etymology of these phrases, showing that they often carry with them cultural and historical baggage that goes beyond immediate explanation. The etymological investigation of “pra dog” reveals not only the history of an expression, but also offers a glimpse of the culture and experiences of the speakers who use it, even if in a speculative and interpretative way.
*Marcelo Modolo is professor of philology at the University of São Paulo (USP).
*Henrique Santos Braga He holds a PhD in Philology and Portuguese Language from USP.
A first version of this article was published in Journal of USP.
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