The Heat of History: Unpacking the Origins of a Timeless Metaphor The sweltering summer months evoke images of languid afternoons and listlessness.
The phrase "dog days of summer" is a colloquialism that has become synonymous with this feeling. But where did it come from, and what does it really mean?
The term is attributed to the ancient Romans, who believed that during the hottest period of the year, the stars of Canis Major (the Greater Dog) rose in the sky at night.