A cock is bold on his own dunghill

[thedaffodils]

A cock is bold on his own dunghill

I learned this saying from my English-Chinese dictionary. But I don't fish out any info about it from the English webpages via Google search. Is it an English saying? I hope someone can confirm this for me. Thanks!

[Ouisch]

It is not at all a typical English saying, and I'm only familiar with it because I've seen the phrase "every cock will crow upon his own dunghill" in a few historic romance novels.

The meaning of the phrase is that everyone feels comfortable on his own "home turf," or in a location with which he is very familiar. But be aware that even though everyone knows "cock" means rooster, they also know that it is a vulgar slang term for male genetalia and will giggle or give you a look if you use it in general conversation. (The word "rooster" is preferred when referring to a male chicken.)

[Anglika]

Here it would be either cockerel or cock - despite the double entendres. We do not have roosters, except those birds that choose to roost above ground overnight.

[Ouisch]

We do not have roosters, except those birds that choose to roost above ground overnight.

But don't all cocks/cockerels technically roost above ground overnight?

[Anglika]

It is still not the term used here. A roosting bird is a pheasant or a pigeon, or even possibly a guineahen.

[thedaffodils]

Ouisch and Anglika,

Thank you very much for your answers.

It is a good reminder about 'cock' in American slang.