The Big Dog - where did this phrase come from?

a_random_joel

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jun-15-04 11:02 AM
Original message

The Big Dog - where did this phrase come from?

How did the phrase come about?

I am down with slang, so I understand the meaning, I am just curious with who/when/where this phrase for Clinton came about. Is there a story behind it, or did it just get bandied about so much that it stuck?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Catherine Vincent

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jun-15-04 11:05 AM
Response to Original message

1. No story. It just fits.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DoktorGreg

(276 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jun-15-04 11:07 AM
Response to Original message

2. Bartcop was the first to use it. EOM

EOM

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

I thought so.

(466 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jun-15-04 12:21 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. Not

Think again.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DoktorGreg

(276 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jun-15-04 12:46 PM
Response to Reply #3

5. lol, Read the parent again.

Bartcop was the first person to use it in reference to Clinton, even though you may be right about the term.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Shakespeare

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jun-15-04 12:47 PM
Response to Reply #5

7. No, he wasn't.

Bartcop was NOT the first to use that term in reference to Clinton.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DoktorGreg

(276 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jun-15-04 01:10 PM
Response to Reply #7

8. Well I have a 1997ish reference attributed to Bartcop

Where Bartcop uses "Big Dog" to refer to heads of GOP. Issue 110. The page doesnt have a date, and the file tag is gone.

Then the first time I found it used in reference to Clinton is in issue 403 for Febuary 8th 2001. Technically you are right, a letter to Bartcop seems to be the first reference to it, But bartcop started using it after that.

What have you got?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Shakespeare

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jun-15-04 01:14 PM
Response to Reply #8

9. See my post below.

btw, Salon was referring to him as the big dog at least as far back as October 2000. The nickname entered the popular lexicon long before then.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

I thought so.

(466 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jun-15-04 12:33 PM
Response to Original message

4. It refers to the lead dog.

Edited on Tue Jun-15-04 12:37 PM by I thought so.

The one that leads the team of sled dogs. They have a race in Alaska every year that celebrates the dogs that raced to Point Barrow to save the children. They needed medicines,many were saved.

Bill Clinton is just like that.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Shakespeare

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jun-15-04 12:46 PM
Response to Reply #4

6. Nope--not that, and not Bartcop.

It's a southern idiom: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch." I believe either Ann Richards or the late Lawton Chiles tossed out that idiom in reference to Clinton, and the moniker stuck.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Hammie

(413 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Jun-17-04 01:38 AM
Response to Original message

10. I think Hillary started calling him that.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Fri May 17th 2024, 12:28 PM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.