# pelt of the dog

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pelt-of-the-dog
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An immoderate, excessive quantity of alcohol drunk the morning after whilst suffering withdrawal symptoms or a hangover, which goes beyond alleviating the complaint to causing drunkenness; compare hair of the dog.

## Examples

- He drank a beer as a pelt of the dog.
- You look tipsy because you drank a pelt of the dog this morning.
- After a long night of partying, he ignored his headache and drank a strong cocktail as a pelt of the dog.
- She tried to cure her hangover with a small drink, but she ended up having a pelt of the dog and felt drunk again by lunchtime.
- Instead of just one glass to settle his stomach, he finished the whole bottle as a pelt of the dog and ruined his entire day.
- Seeking relief from the morning's tremors, he foolishly turned to a pelt of the dog, only to find himself intoxicated before noon.

## Origin

An alteration of the idiom *hair of the dog*, substituting *pelt* for *hair* to imply a significantly greater quantity of the restorative agent. The shift in terminology suggests that if a single strand of the animal is insufficient to cure the consequences of the previous evening, the entire skin might be required.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.