THREE DOG NIGHT Meaning and
Definition
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Three Dog Night is a colloquial term that originated in the United States and primarily refers to a bitterly cold night where the weather is exceptionally cold, often in freezing or below-freezing temperatures. It is a phrase derived from the practice of Indigenous peoples, particularly among the Inuit/Eskimo cultures, who used the number of dogs they needed to keep close for warmth as an indication of the severity of the cold.
In traditional Inuit culture, dogs were an integral part of transportation and survival in the harsh Arctic environment. During extremely cold nights when temperatures dropped to dangerous levels, the Inuit would bring three dogs into their sleeping quarters to generate additional heat and provide insulation. Hence, a "three dog night" signifies extreme coldness beyond what is ordinary or bearable.
Metaphorically, the phrase has been adopted in general English usage to describe any extremely cold night, regardless of the number of dogs involved. The expression conveys a sense of intense and biting cold that is capable of causing discomfort or potential harm to living beings. It is often used figuratively as a descriptive term or idiom to evoke the severity and bitter coldness of a particular climate or weather condition, extending beyond its literal meaning.
Common Misspellings for THREE DOG NIGHT
Idioms with the word THREE DOG NIGHT
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three dog night
The idiom "three dog night" refers to a very cold night, so cold that it would take three dogs to keep you warm.
