Posted by ESC on July 01, 2007
In Reply to: Re: Walking the dog posted by Chris on July 01, 2007
: : Can anybody tell me what the meaning is of "walking the dog"?
: "Taking the dog for a walk" is a general expression meaning you are going somewhere you don't want your spouse to know about; typically something relatively innocent like sneaking off to the pub for a crafty pint. The same excuse is said by some to be the root of the term "dogging" which describes a different (rather less innocent?) activity. I've always assumed "walking the dog" is just a variation on "taking the dog for a walk"but I could be wrong.
It was a song by Rufus Thomas (see http://www3.clearlight.com/~acsa/introjs.htm?/~acsa/songfile/WALKINTH.HTM ). But I have a vague notion or guess that the song was a reference to a dance, a yoyo move or something of a childhood game nature.