[Idiom] 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!

 

[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 [STRIKE]the[/STRIKE] 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!