Vocabulary Spot: All Groups, The Dog Days (of Summer)

Dog Days

The term "Dog Days" refers to hot, sultry summer weather - alluding to the period between early July and early September when Sirius (the Dog Star) rises and sets with the sun. The ancient Romans called this phenomenon dies caniculares which was translated as "dog days"in the first half of the 1500s.  The phrase can also be used to describe a period of stagnation e.g. when business is slow.

For more on the origin of Dog Days go to the Dictionary.com Blog.


Dog Days in popular culture:
Dog Day Afternoon (1975, Sidney Lumet)

The Dog Days Are Over Florence and the Machine