There was one man and his dog

[platinum]

Could you confirm that to describe a place "There was one man and his dog" means that the place was nearly deserted, and if so does anyone know the origin of the phrase?
Many thanks

[Tdol]

I've seen it used to descxribe a very small audience or atendance, but don't know the origin. I suppose the dog gets included for humour/bathos.

[BobK]

I've seen it used to descxribe a very small audience or atendance, but don't know the origin. I suppose the dog gets included for humour/bathos.

There's a counting song called One Man Went to Mow, which I think might have something to do with it - '... three men, two men, one man and his dog, went to mow a meadow': CBeebies - Tweenies - Song Time; Sing a Song; O; One man went to mow

I've usually heard the expression 'one man and his dog' used to refer to a small business: We supply all kinds of business - from a multi-national with a payroll of thousands, right down to a one-man-and-his-dog firm operating out of a garden shed with an ad in the parish magazine.

b

[BobK]

I just had an idea for the name of a blog. But someone got there first: One Man & His Blog

b

[Tdol]

It is a good title.

[Ancestor]

I feel bad for the cat :(