| 释义 |
black dog
†1. A cant name, in Queen Anne's reign, for a bad shilling or other base silver coin. Obs.
1706Luttrell in Ashton Reign Q. Anne II. 225 The Art of making Black Dogs, which are Shillings, or other pieces of money made only of Pewter, double Wash'd. 1724Swift Drapier's Lett. Wks. 1755 V. ii. 44 Butchers' half-pence, black-dogs, and others the like.
2. fig. Melancholy, depression of spirits; ill-humour; (in some country places, when a child is sulky, it is said ‘the black dog is on his back’).
1826Scott in Lockhart (1839) VIII. 335 A great relief from the black dog which would have worried me at home. 1882Stevenson New Arab. Nts. II. 111 He did not seem to be enjoying his luck..The black dog was on his back, as people say, in terrifying nursery metaphor. |