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1. the period between early July and early September when the hot sultry weather of summer usually occurs in the northern hemisphere.
2. a period of stagnation or inactivity.
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
The “dog days” are the hot and lazy days of summer-the kind of days that we expect in late July and August around here. Did you ever wonder where the phrase, “dog days of summer” originated? You might think it refers to the laziness of our canine friends during the heat of the long, hot summer days. The phrase actually dates back to the ancient Romans who called these days caniculares dies (days of the dogs) after Sirius, the “Dog Star”, the brightest star in the sky during this time of year. The star was so bright that the Romans thought that the earth received heat from it causing the hot temperatures. In more recent times, the phrase “dog days of summer” has been linked to the stock market when, during the summer months, the stock market is typically slow and poor performing stocks are often referred to as “dogs”. It’s going to be hot. Grab a book, be lazy and enjoy the dog days of summer.
