Dog My Cats - origins

[Ryves]

Hello everyone!

I am doing an assignment in American Literature and encountered the idiom "Dog my Cats!"

My questions is - Does the idiom belong to a certain type of slang?
For example, in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" it is used by Jim, the escaped slave.
Is it a part of the African American Vernacular English (AAVE)?


Thank you!

[Piscean]

I've never heard it, but I found this: https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/dog+my+cats

Welcome to the forum.

[Tdol]

Is it a part of the African American Vernacular English (AAVE)?

I have never heard it in British English.

[GoesStation]

Is it a part of the African American Vernacular English (AAVE)?

You might hear it occasionally in my region from an older white person with Appalachian roots. If it was ever part of AAVE, it was a very long time ago.

[Tarheel]

Hello everyone!

I am doing an assignment on American Literature and encountered the idiom "Dog my cats!"

My questions is - Does the idiom belong to a certain type of slang?
For example, in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" it is used by Jim, the escaped slave.
Is it a part of the African American Vernacular English (AAVE)?

That expression was known in the days of Mark Twain. (I had to google it.) It's considered a mild oath. I don't think it's used much these days.

[probus]

Also unheard of here in Canada.

[Charlie Bernstein]

Hello everyone!

I am doing an assignment in American Literature and encountered the idiom "Dog my cats!"

My questions are: Does the idiom belong to a certain type of slang?

Maybe.

For example, in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" it is used by Jim, the escaped slave.

Is it a part of the African American Vernacular English (AAVE)?

Maybe.

Thank you!

My dad used to say it all the time when he wanted to sound folksy — with "Well" in front of it.

[teechar]

I like "Shiver me timbers".

[probus]

I like "Shiver me timbers".

AAAAAARRRR!