I don't have a ___ in this ___ (saying) Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara Planned maintenance scheduled April 17/18, 2019 at 00:00UTC (8:00pm US/Eastern)Idiom for the effect that money from funding is easier to spend, as opposed to one's own savingsAlternative to “skin in the game”Origin of “skin in the game”Is there a saying in English corresponding to “Another loach under the willow tree”?An expression or saying meaning “don't celebrate too early”English proverb or saying on “you can't have too many friends”Is there a saying or proverb for a situation where the weakest party will always lose?Is there a saying or proverb for a situation where the weakest party will always lose?Maxims that have to do with persistence?Saying for Using an expensive thing for casual useEnglish equivalents of Slovak sayingProper spelling/sayingEnglish equivalent proverb/idiom for this saying
Should I use a zero-interest credit card for a large one-time purchase?
Naming the result of a source block
When were vectors invented?
Why is my conclusion inconsistent with the van't Hoff equation?
Bete Noir -- no dairy
Can an alien society believe that their star system is the universe?
Extract all GPU name, model and GPU ram
Seeking colloquialism for “just because”
How to bypass password on Windows XP account?
How to find out what spells would be useless to a blind NPC spellcaster?
How to align text above triangle figure
What is a non-alternating simple group with big order, but relatively few conjugacy classes?
How discoverable are IPv6 addresses and AAAA names by potential attackers?
Why is "Consequences inflicted." not a sentence?
Fundamental Solution of the Pell Equation
What causes the vertical darker bands in my photo?
Why did the rest of the Eastern Bloc not invade Yugoslavia?
Why light coming from distant stars is not discreet?
Why was the term "discrete" used in discrete logarithm?
Why are Kinder Surprise Eggs illegal in the USA?
How to call a function with default parameter through a pointer to function that is the return of another function?
If a contract sometimes uses the wrong name, is it still valid?
How do I keep my slimes from escaping their pens?
What does the "x" in "x86" represent?
I don't have a ___ in this ___ (saying)
Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara
Planned maintenance scheduled April 17/18, 2019 at 00:00UTC (8:00pm US/Eastern)Idiom for the effect that money from funding is easier to spend, as opposed to one's own savingsAlternative to “skin in the game”Origin of “skin in the game”Is there a saying in English corresponding to “Another loach under the willow tree”?An expression or saying meaning “don't celebrate too early”English proverb or saying on “you can't have too many friends”Is there a saying or proverb for a situation where the weakest party will always lose?Is there a saying or proverb for a situation where the weakest party will always lose?Maxims that have to do with persistence?Saying for Using an expensive thing for casual useEnglish equivalents of Slovak sayingProper spelling/sayingEnglish equivalent proverb/idiom for this saying
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
Earlier this evening, I was trying to tell someone, "I don't care who wins the Superbowl this year. I don't have a-"
I could't remember how to complete this saying (to mean I don't have a personal interest in the outcome of a particular contest, debate, or game).
I don't have a stake in this game.
That's the closest I can come up with, but I seem to remember there's an animal-related version as well. Internet searches have not been helpful. "A pig at this market" maybe?
expressions idioms popular-refrains proverbs
add a comment |
Earlier this evening, I was trying to tell someone, "I don't care who wins the Superbowl this year. I don't have a-"
I could't remember how to complete this saying (to mean I don't have a personal interest in the outcome of a particular contest, debate, or game).
I don't have a stake in this game.
That's the closest I can come up with, but I seem to remember there's an animal-related version as well. Internet searches have not been helpful. "A pig at this market" maybe?
expressions idioms popular-refrains proverbs
26
Clearly, the answer is "I don't have a snake on this plane."
– corsiKa
Feb 2 '15 at 23:59
6
I think it's relevant to point out that in this situation Google does a good job at finding possibilities, if you surround the phrase in quotes " and use an asterisk * for missing words: goo.gl/9aj4SE Ignoring this page which is the top result, the two suggestions in the accepted answer are the next two results (for me at least).
– Andrew Chinery
Feb 3 '15 at 11:26
3
@AndrewChinery Huh, that's super cool. I thought I was an expert googler, but I didn't know you could do that :). Incidentally, for me at the moment, horse in the race is #2, dog in the fight is #4. #3 wins for best tortured metaphor: "I don't have a pony in this race since I don't have a cat." And #5 is equally and similarly odd: "I don't have a dog in this cat fight." What? :D Also amusing, page 2 of the search is full of random SO posts that had this title in their text via "hot network posts".
– neminem
Feb 3 '15 at 16:39
add a comment |
Earlier this evening, I was trying to tell someone, "I don't care who wins the Superbowl this year. I don't have a-"
I could't remember how to complete this saying (to mean I don't have a personal interest in the outcome of a particular contest, debate, or game).
I don't have a stake in this game.
That's the closest I can come up with, but I seem to remember there's an animal-related version as well. Internet searches have not been helpful. "A pig at this market" maybe?
expressions idioms popular-refrains proverbs
Earlier this evening, I was trying to tell someone, "I don't care who wins the Superbowl this year. I don't have a-"
I could't remember how to complete this saying (to mean I don't have a personal interest in the outcome of a particular contest, debate, or game).
I don't have a stake in this game.
That's the closest I can come up with, but I seem to remember there's an animal-related version as well. Internet searches have not been helpful. "A pig at this market" maybe?
expressions idioms popular-refrains proverbs
expressions idioms popular-refrains proverbs
edited 7 hours ago
Sven Yargs
115k20251508
115k20251508
asked Feb 2 '15 at 1:05
miltonautmiltonaut
1,5561918
1,5561918
26
Clearly, the answer is "I don't have a snake on this plane."
– corsiKa
Feb 2 '15 at 23:59
6
I think it's relevant to point out that in this situation Google does a good job at finding possibilities, if you surround the phrase in quotes " and use an asterisk * for missing words: goo.gl/9aj4SE Ignoring this page which is the top result, the two suggestions in the accepted answer are the next two results (for me at least).
– Andrew Chinery
Feb 3 '15 at 11:26
3
@AndrewChinery Huh, that's super cool. I thought I was an expert googler, but I didn't know you could do that :). Incidentally, for me at the moment, horse in the race is #2, dog in the fight is #4. #3 wins for best tortured metaphor: "I don't have a pony in this race since I don't have a cat." And #5 is equally and similarly odd: "I don't have a dog in this cat fight." What? :D Also amusing, page 2 of the search is full of random SO posts that had this title in their text via "hot network posts".
– neminem
Feb 3 '15 at 16:39
add a comment |
26
Clearly, the answer is "I don't have a snake on this plane."
– corsiKa
Feb 2 '15 at 23:59
6
I think it's relevant to point out that in this situation Google does a good job at finding possibilities, if you surround the phrase in quotes " and use an asterisk * for missing words: goo.gl/9aj4SE Ignoring this page which is the top result, the two suggestions in the accepted answer are the next two results (for me at least).
– Andrew Chinery
Feb 3 '15 at 11:26
3
@AndrewChinery Huh, that's super cool. I thought I was an expert googler, but I didn't know you could do that :). Incidentally, for me at the moment, horse in the race is #2, dog in the fight is #4. #3 wins for best tortured metaphor: "I don't have a pony in this race since I don't have a cat." And #5 is equally and similarly odd: "I don't have a dog in this cat fight." What? :D Also amusing, page 2 of the search is full of random SO posts that had this title in their text via "hot network posts".
– neminem
Feb 3 '15 at 16:39
26
26
Clearly, the answer is "I don't have a snake on this plane."
– corsiKa
Feb 2 '15 at 23:59
Clearly, the answer is "I don't have a snake on this plane."
– corsiKa
Feb 2 '15 at 23:59
6
6
I think it's relevant to point out that in this situation Google does a good job at finding possibilities, if you surround the phrase in quotes " and use an asterisk * for missing words: goo.gl/9aj4SE Ignoring this page which is the top result, the two suggestions in the accepted answer are the next two results (for me at least).
– Andrew Chinery
Feb 3 '15 at 11:26
I think it's relevant to point out that in this situation Google does a good job at finding possibilities, if you surround the phrase in quotes " and use an asterisk * for missing words: goo.gl/9aj4SE Ignoring this page which is the top result, the two suggestions in the accepted answer are the next two results (for me at least).
– Andrew Chinery
Feb 3 '15 at 11:26
3
3
@AndrewChinery Huh, that's super cool. I thought I was an expert googler, but I didn't know you could do that :). Incidentally, for me at the moment, horse in the race is #2, dog in the fight is #4. #3 wins for best tortured metaphor: "I don't have a pony in this race since I don't have a cat." And #5 is equally and similarly odd: "I don't have a dog in this cat fight." What? :D Also amusing, page 2 of the search is full of random SO posts that had this title in their text via "hot network posts".
– neminem
Feb 3 '15 at 16:39
@AndrewChinery Huh, that's super cool. I thought I was an expert googler, but I didn't know you could do that :). Incidentally, for me at the moment, horse in the race is #2, dog in the fight is #4. #3 wins for best tortured metaphor: "I don't have a pony in this race since I don't have a cat." And #5 is equally and similarly odd: "I don't have a dog in this cat fight." What? :D Also amusing, page 2 of the search is full of random SO posts that had this title in their text via "hot network posts".
– neminem
Feb 3 '15 at 16:39
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
There are two similar phrases for this. One is "I don't have a horse in this race" and another is "I don't have a dog in this fight." Both mean basically what you said--that the person saying the phrase doesn't personally have anything at stake in a situation.
8
Good thing they chose dog fighting for the second one. “I don’t have a cock in that fight” might be misinterpreted …
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Feb 2 '15 at 1:13
2
@JanusBahsJacquet - "I don't have a cock in this pit".
– Erik Kowal
Feb 2 '15 at 5:00
3
These are the exact two phrases I thought of when I saw the title to this question.
– siliconrockstar
Feb 2 '15 at 14:13
4
@JanusBahsJacquet: That's a sword fight.
– AbraCadaver
Feb 2 '15 at 21:36
2
I thought of "I don't have a dog in this race", which is how I believe I've heard it most often said in the UK - dog-racing is far more common than dog-fighting there. But now I'm wondering if this form might be seen as an incorrect mangling of the other two two forms, like "easy as cake" or "piece of pie".
– Dewi Morgan
Feb 4 '15 at 0:02
|
show 1 more comment
I believe that the Texas/Southern U.S. version of the expression is "I don't have a dog in this [or that] hunt," meaning that the speaker doesn't have a rooting interest. The expression is sometimes used to emphasize the disinterested status of the speaker prior to his or her offering advice or commentary on the subject of the "hunt" in question. The speaker's claimed lack of any ulterior motives as an observer supposedly enhances the reliability of the advice or comments offered.
The expression "I don't have a dog in this hunt" sounds folksy enough to be a genuine old-timey expression, but a Google Books search suggests that it is a recent, faux folksy saying, along the same lines as calling someone "all [cowboy] hat and no cattle." Google Books finds one (relatively) early example from 1994 and another from either 1994 or 1995 (judging from the references it makes to O.J. Simpson's impending murder trial, which took place in 1995). From U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Regulation, Business Opportunities, and Technology, Problems in Securing Informed Consent of Subjects in Experimental Trial of Unapproved Drugs and Devices (May 23, 1994):
Mr. COMBEST. I had one more question. We have a saying in Texas that I don't have a dog in that hunt, which I don't. I don't have a bias in this one way or the other. We are just trying to find out the total details so we can come up with hopefully some positive suggestions.
From Instauration, volumes 19–20 (1994–1995) [combined snippets]:
How many Majority folk are players in this game? Well, there's Nicole. Mmmm, who else is there? The only other Majority female I'm aware of is Judge Ito's white wife. Everybody else is either black or Jewish. If you're a white male, you don't have a dog in this hunt. Might as well just sit back and enjoy the spectacle.
The next Google Books match is from U.S. Congress, House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Subcommittee on Civil Service, Government Shutdown One (1997) [combined snippets]:
I thank the distinguished chairman and members of the subcommittee. I will submit my written testimony and try to paraphrase it. Like Mr. Browder, I don't have many Federal employees. I'm not near the nation's capital. So, in one sense, I don't have a dog in this hunt. But in the sense that I represent 600,000 taxpayers, I think I do have a reasonable reason to be somewhat concerned about it.
These hearings took place on December 6 and 14, 1995, and the record of the hearings was published on January 1, 1997.
None of my American slang reference books from the 1990s has an entry for "I don't have a dog in this [or that] hunt." But Google Books lists many instances of the phrase from the past fifteen years.
1
Closely related, and possibly more often used: "That dog won't hunt" and "That dog don't hunt".
– Erik Kowal
Feb 2 '15 at 6:34
1
@ErikKowal: I was just recollecting as I wrote this answer that when I lived in Texas (in the late 1970s) the phrase "That dog won't hunt" was the punchline of a rambling joke involving a fast talker who is trying to trick a country fellow into buying a worthless but expensive dog. Ann Richards (then governor of Texas) used the phrase in her keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 1988. So it appears to be at least a little older than "I don't have a dog in this hunt."
– Sven Yargs
Feb 2 '15 at 7:01
11
@Erik: I don't think so. "I don't have a dog in this hunt" means I do not have any vested interest; whereas "That dog won't hunt" means the object under consideration is worn out, past its prime, not worth the price. The only relation is that the words 'dog' and 'hunt' are used in both.
– cobaltduck
Feb 2 '15 at 13:04
1
+1 for good citations, and because I learned something. I've never heard the saying in five years in Texas.
– Dewi Morgan
Feb 4 '15 at 6:47
As a born-and-bred Texan, I don't recall ever hearing "a dog in this hunt." Must be one of those things that's just escaped me. My cousin raises dogs to hunt hogs--I'd go with him but I hate running. :-P
– miltonaut
Feb 10 '15 at 0:14
add a comment |
Perhaps you were looking for:
I don't have any skin in the game
meaning I have no vested interest in the outcome.
1
Generally, "skin in the game" refers to a vested, financial interest, as you've noted. This question refers to a common expression that speaks more to rooting interest than financial stakes. (Though it can apply to financial stakes as well, it doesn't neccesarily imply them, as your answer does.)
– LessPop_MoreFizz
Feb 2 '15 at 14:54
1
@lesspop_morefizz "horse in the race" and "dog in the fight" both connote a financial stake as well. ask your bookie why this is.
– erich
Feb 2 '15 at 22:25
add a comment |
The actual meaning you are looking for is "I don't have an interest in this matter." but the everyday term would be "I don't have a dog in this fight". This refers to dog fights and fighting where you are not competing at all, none of the dogs are yours. Other answers seem tortured in their use. The history may well go back to hunt rather than fight but I've never heard it used.
add a comment |
protected by Community♦ Jul 11 '17 at 16:10
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
There are two similar phrases for this. One is "I don't have a horse in this race" and another is "I don't have a dog in this fight." Both mean basically what you said--that the person saying the phrase doesn't personally have anything at stake in a situation.
8
Good thing they chose dog fighting for the second one. “I don’t have a cock in that fight” might be misinterpreted …
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Feb 2 '15 at 1:13
2
@JanusBahsJacquet - "I don't have a cock in this pit".
– Erik Kowal
Feb 2 '15 at 5:00
3
These are the exact two phrases I thought of when I saw the title to this question.
– siliconrockstar
Feb 2 '15 at 14:13
4
@JanusBahsJacquet: That's a sword fight.
– AbraCadaver
Feb 2 '15 at 21:36
2
I thought of "I don't have a dog in this race", which is how I believe I've heard it most often said in the UK - dog-racing is far more common than dog-fighting there. But now I'm wondering if this form might be seen as an incorrect mangling of the other two two forms, like "easy as cake" or "piece of pie".
– Dewi Morgan
Feb 4 '15 at 0:02
|
show 1 more comment
There are two similar phrases for this. One is "I don't have a horse in this race" and another is "I don't have a dog in this fight." Both mean basically what you said--that the person saying the phrase doesn't personally have anything at stake in a situation.
8
Good thing they chose dog fighting for the second one. “I don’t have a cock in that fight” might be misinterpreted …
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Feb 2 '15 at 1:13
2
@JanusBahsJacquet - "I don't have a cock in this pit".
– Erik Kowal
Feb 2 '15 at 5:00
3
These are the exact two phrases I thought of when I saw the title to this question.
– siliconrockstar
Feb 2 '15 at 14:13
4
@JanusBahsJacquet: That's a sword fight.
– AbraCadaver
Feb 2 '15 at 21:36
2
I thought of "I don't have a dog in this race", which is how I believe I've heard it most often said in the UK - dog-racing is far more common than dog-fighting there. But now I'm wondering if this form might be seen as an incorrect mangling of the other two two forms, like "easy as cake" or "piece of pie".
– Dewi Morgan
Feb 4 '15 at 0:02
|
show 1 more comment
There are two similar phrases for this. One is "I don't have a horse in this race" and another is "I don't have a dog in this fight." Both mean basically what you said--that the person saying the phrase doesn't personally have anything at stake in a situation.
There are two similar phrases for this. One is "I don't have a horse in this race" and another is "I don't have a dog in this fight." Both mean basically what you said--that the person saying the phrase doesn't personally have anything at stake in a situation.
answered Feb 2 '15 at 1:11
NicoleNicole
9,58074084
9,58074084
8
Good thing they chose dog fighting for the second one. “I don’t have a cock in that fight” might be misinterpreted …
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Feb 2 '15 at 1:13
2
@JanusBahsJacquet - "I don't have a cock in this pit".
– Erik Kowal
Feb 2 '15 at 5:00
3
These are the exact two phrases I thought of when I saw the title to this question.
– siliconrockstar
Feb 2 '15 at 14:13
4
@JanusBahsJacquet: That's a sword fight.
– AbraCadaver
Feb 2 '15 at 21:36
2
I thought of "I don't have a dog in this race", which is how I believe I've heard it most often said in the UK - dog-racing is far more common than dog-fighting there. But now I'm wondering if this form might be seen as an incorrect mangling of the other two two forms, like "easy as cake" or "piece of pie".
– Dewi Morgan
Feb 4 '15 at 0:02
|
show 1 more comment
8
Good thing they chose dog fighting for the second one. “I don’t have a cock in that fight” might be misinterpreted …
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Feb 2 '15 at 1:13
2
@JanusBahsJacquet - "I don't have a cock in this pit".
– Erik Kowal
Feb 2 '15 at 5:00
3
These are the exact two phrases I thought of when I saw the title to this question.
– siliconrockstar
Feb 2 '15 at 14:13
4
@JanusBahsJacquet: That's a sword fight.
– AbraCadaver
Feb 2 '15 at 21:36
2
I thought of "I don't have a dog in this race", which is how I believe I've heard it most often said in the UK - dog-racing is far more common than dog-fighting there. But now I'm wondering if this form might be seen as an incorrect mangling of the other two two forms, like "easy as cake" or "piece of pie".
– Dewi Morgan
Feb 4 '15 at 0:02
8
8
Good thing they chose dog fighting for the second one. “I don’t have a cock in that fight” might be misinterpreted …
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Feb 2 '15 at 1:13
Good thing they chose dog fighting for the second one. “I don’t have a cock in that fight” might be misinterpreted …
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Feb 2 '15 at 1:13
2
2
@JanusBahsJacquet - "I don't have a cock in this pit".
– Erik Kowal
Feb 2 '15 at 5:00
@JanusBahsJacquet - "I don't have a cock in this pit".
– Erik Kowal
Feb 2 '15 at 5:00
3
3
These are the exact two phrases I thought of when I saw the title to this question.
– siliconrockstar
Feb 2 '15 at 14:13
These are the exact two phrases I thought of when I saw the title to this question.
– siliconrockstar
Feb 2 '15 at 14:13
4
4
@JanusBahsJacquet: That's a sword fight.
– AbraCadaver
Feb 2 '15 at 21:36
@JanusBahsJacquet: That's a sword fight.
– AbraCadaver
Feb 2 '15 at 21:36
2
2
I thought of "I don't have a dog in this race", which is how I believe I've heard it most often said in the UK - dog-racing is far more common than dog-fighting there. But now I'm wondering if this form might be seen as an incorrect mangling of the other two two forms, like "easy as cake" or "piece of pie".
– Dewi Morgan
Feb 4 '15 at 0:02
I thought of "I don't have a dog in this race", which is how I believe I've heard it most often said in the UK - dog-racing is far more common than dog-fighting there. But now I'm wondering if this form might be seen as an incorrect mangling of the other two two forms, like "easy as cake" or "piece of pie".
– Dewi Morgan
Feb 4 '15 at 0:02
|
show 1 more comment
I believe that the Texas/Southern U.S. version of the expression is "I don't have a dog in this [or that] hunt," meaning that the speaker doesn't have a rooting interest. The expression is sometimes used to emphasize the disinterested status of the speaker prior to his or her offering advice or commentary on the subject of the "hunt" in question. The speaker's claimed lack of any ulterior motives as an observer supposedly enhances the reliability of the advice or comments offered.
The expression "I don't have a dog in this hunt" sounds folksy enough to be a genuine old-timey expression, but a Google Books search suggests that it is a recent, faux folksy saying, along the same lines as calling someone "all [cowboy] hat and no cattle." Google Books finds one (relatively) early example from 1994 and another from either 1994 or 1995 (judging from the references it makes to O.J. Simpson's impending murder trial, which took place in 1995). From U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Regulation, Business Opportunities, and Technology, Problems in Securing Informed Consent of Subjects in Experimental Trial of Unapproved Drugs and Devices (May 23, 1994):
Mr. COMBEST. I had one more question. We have a saying in Texas that I don't have a dog in that hunt, which I don't. I don't have a bias in this one way or the other. We are just trying to find out the total details so we can come up with hopefully some positive suggestions.
From Instauration, volumes 19–20 (1994–1995) [combined snippets]:
How many Majority folk are players in this game? Well, there's Nicole. Mmmm, who else is there? The only other Majority female I'm aware of is Judge Ito's white wife. Everybody else is either black or Jewish. If you're a white male, you don't have a dog in this hunt. Might as well just sit back and enjoy the spectacle.
The next Google Books match is from U.S. Congress, House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Subcommittee on Civil Service, Government Shutdown One (1997) [combined snippets]:
I thank the distinguished chairman and members of the subcommittee. I will submit my written testimony and try to paraphrase it. Like Mr. Browder, I don't have many Federal employees. I'm not near the nation's capital. So, in one sense, I don't have a dog in this hunt. But in the sense that I represent 600,000 taxpayers, I think I do have a reasonable reason to be somewhat concerned about it.
These hearings took place on December 6 and 14, 1995, and the record of the hearings was published on January 1, 1997.
None of my American slang reference books from the 1990s has an entry for "I don't have a dog in this [or that] hunt." But Google Books lists many instances of the phrase from the past fifteen years.
1
Closely related, and possibly more often used: "That dog won't hunt" and "That dog don't hunt".
– Erik Kowal
Feb 2 '15 at 6:34
1
@ErikKowal: I was just recollecting as I wrote this answer that when I lived in Texas (in the late 1970s) the phrase "That dog won't hunt" was the punchline of a rambling joke involving a fast talker who is trying to trick a country fellow into buying a worthless but expensive dog. Ann Richards (then governor of Texas) used the phrase in her keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 1988. So it appears to be at least a little older than "I don't have a dog in this hunt."
– Sven Yargs
Feb 2 '15 at 7:01
11
@Erik: I don't think so. "I don't have a dog in this hunt" means I do not have any vested interest; whereas "That dog won't hunt" means the object under consideration is worn out, past its prime, not worth the price. The only relation is that the words 'dog' and 'hunt' are used in both.
– cobaltduck
Feb 2 '15 at 13:04
1
+1 for good citations, and because I learned something. I've never heard the saying in five years in Texas.
– Dewi Morgan
Feb 4 '15 at 6:47
As a born-and-bred Texan, I don't recall ever hearing "a dog in this hunt." Must be one of those things that's just escaped me. My cousin raises dogs to hunt hogs--I'd go with him but I hate running. :-P
– miltonaut
Feb 10 '15 at 0:14
add a comment |
I believe that the Texas/Southern U.S. version of the expression is "I don't have a dog in this [or that] hunt," meaning that the speaker doesn't have a rooting interest. The expression is sometimes used to emphasize the disinterested status of the speaker prior to his or her offering advice or commentary on the subject of the "hunt" in question. The speaker's claimed lack of any ulterior motives as an observer supposedly enhances the reliability of the advice or comments offered.
The expression "I don't have a dog in this hunt" sounds folksy enough to be a genuine old-timey expression, but a Google Books search suggests that it is a recent, faux folksy saying, along the same lines as calling someone "all [cowboy] hat and no cattle." Google Books finds one (relatively) early example from 1994 and another from either 1994 or 1995 (judging from the references it makes to O.J. Simpson's impending murder trial, which took place in 1995). From U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Regulation, Business Opportunities, and Technology, Problems in Securing Informed Consent of Subjects in Experimental Trial of Unapproved Drugs and Devices (May 23, 1994):
Mr. COMBEST. I had one more question. We have a saying in Texas that I don't have a dog in that hunt, which I don't. I don't have a bias in this one way or the other. We are just trying to find out the total details so we can come up with hopefully some positive suggestions.
From Instauration, volumes 19–20 (1994–1995) [combined snippets]:
How many Majority folk are players in this game? Well, there's Nicole. Mmmm, who else is there? The only other Majority female I'm aware of is Judge Ito's white wife. Everybody else is either black or Jewish. If you're a white male, you don't have a dog in this hunt. Might as well just sit back and enjoy the spectacle.
The next Google Books match is from U.S. Congress, House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Subcommittee on Civil Service, Government Shutdown One (1997) [combined snippets]:
I thank the distinguished chairman and members of the subcommittee. I will submit my written testimony and try to paraphrase it. Like Mr. Browder, I don't have many Federal employees. I'm not near the nation's capital. So, in one sense, I don't have a dog in this hunt. But in the sense that I represent 600,000 taxpayers, I think I do have a reasonable reason to be somewhat concerned about it.
These hearings took place on December 6 and 14, 1995, and the record of the hearings was published on January 1, 1997.
None of my American slang reference books from the 1990s has an entry for "I don't have a dog in this [or that] hunt." But Google Books lists many instances of the phrase from the past fifteen years.
1
Closely related, and possibly more often used: "That dog won't hunt" and "That dog don't hunt".
– Erik Kowal
Feb 2 '15 at 6:34
1
@ErikKowal: I was just recollecting as I wrote this answer that when I lived in Texas (in the late 1970s) the phrase "That dog won't hunt" was the punchline of a rambling joke involving a fast talker who is trying to trick a country fellow into buying a worthless but expensive dog. Ann Richards (then governor of Texas) used the phrase in her keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 1988. So it appears to be at least a little older than "I don't have a dog in this hunt."
– Sven Yargs
Feb 2 '15 at 7:01
11
@Erik: I don't think so. "I don't have a dog in this hunt" means I do not have any vested interest; whereas "That dog won't hunt" means the object under consideration is worn out, past its prime, not worth the price. The only relation is that the words 'dog' and 'hunt' are used in both.
– cobaltduck
Feb 2 '15 at 13:04
1
+1 for good citations, and because I learned something. I've never heard the saying in five years in Texas.
– Dewi Morgan
Feb 4 '15 at 6:47
As a born-and-bred Texan, I don't recall ever hearing "a dog in this hunt." Must be one of those things that's just escaped me. My cousin raises dogs to hunt hogs--I'd go with him but I hate running. :-P
– miltonaut
Feb 10 '15 at 0:14
add a comment |
I believe that the Texas/Southern U.S. version of the expression is "I don't have a dog in this [or that] hunt," meaning that the speaker doesn't have a rooting interest. The expression is sometimes used to emphasize the disinterested status of the speaker prior to his or her offering advice or commentary on the subject of the "hunt" in question. The speaker's claimed lack of any ulterior motives as an observer supposedly enhances the reliability of the advice or comments offered.
The expression "I don't have a dog in this hunt" sounds folksy enough to be a genuine old-timey expression, but a Google Books search suggests that it is a recent, faux folksy saying, along the same lines as calling someone "all [cowboy] hat and no cattle." Google Books finds one (relatively) early example from 1994 and another from either 1994 or 1995 (judging from the references it makes to O.J. Simpson's impending murder trial, which took place in 1995). From U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Regulation, Business Opportunities, and Technology, Problems in Securing Informed Consent of Subjects in Experimental Trial of Unapproved Drugs and Devices (May 23, 1994):
Mr. COMBEST. I had one more question. We have a saying in Texas that I don't have a dog in that hunt, which I don't. I don't have a bias in this one way or the other. We are just trying to find out the total details so we can come up with hopefully some positive suggestions.
From Instauration, volumes 19–20 (1994–1995) [combined snippets]:
How many Majority folk are players in this game? Well, there's Nicole. Mmmm, who else is there? The only other Majority female I'm aware of is Judge Ito's white wife. Everybody else is either black or Jewish. If you're a white male, you don't have a dog in this hunt. Might as well just sit back and enjoy the spectacle.
The next Google Books match is from U.S. Congress, House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Subcommittee on Civil Service, Government Shutdown One (1997) [combined snippets]:
I thank the distinguished chairman and members of the subcommittee. I will submit my written testimony and try to paraphrase it. Like Mr. Browder, I don't have many Federal employees. I'm not near the nation's capital. So, in one sense, I don't have a dog in this hunt. But in the sense that I represent 600,000 taxpayers, I think I do have a reasonable reason to be somewhat concerned about it.
These hearings took place on December 6 and 14, 1995, and the record of the hearings was published on January 1, 1997.
None of my American slang reference books from the 1990s has an entry for "I don't have a dog in this [or that] hunt." But Google Books lists many instances of the phrase from the past fifteen years.
I believe that the Texas/Southern U.S. version of the expression is "I don't have a dog in this [or that] hunt," meaning that the speaker doesn't have a rooting interest. The expression is sometimes used to emphasize the disinterested status of the speaker prior to his or her offering advice or commentary on the subject of the "hunt" in question. The speaker's claimed lack of any ulterior motives as an observer supposedly enhances the reliability of the advice or comments offered.
The expression "I don't have a dog in this hunt" sounds folksy enough to be a genuine old-timey expression, but a Google Books search suggests that it is a recent, faux folksy saying, along the same lines as calling someone "all [cowboy] hat and no cattle." Google Books finds one (relatively) early example from 1994 and another from either 1994 or 1995 (judging from the references it makes to O.J. Simpson's impending murder trial, which took place in 1995). From U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Regulation, Business Opportunities, and Technology, Problems in Securing Informed Consent of Subjects in Experimental Trial of Unapproved Drugs and Devices (May 23, 1994):
Mr. COMBEST. I had one more question. We have a saying in Texas that I don't have a dog in that hunt, which I don't. I don't have a bias in this one way or the other. We are just trying to find out the total details so we can come up with hopefully some positive suggestions.
From Instauration, volumes 19–20 (1994–1995) [combined snippets]:
How many Majority folk are players in this game? Well, there's Nicole. Mmmm, who else is there? The only other Majority female I'm aware of is Judge Ito's white wife. Everybody else is either black or Jewish. If you're a white male, you don't have a dog in this hunt. Might as well just sit back and enjoy the spectacle.
The next Google Books match is from U.S. Congress, House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Subcommittee on Civil Service, Government Shutdown One (1997) [combined snippets]:
I thank the distinguished chairman and members of the subcommittee. I will submit my written testimony and try to paraphrase it. Like Mr. Browder, I don't have many Federal employees. I'm not near the nation's capital. So, in one sense, I don't have a dog in this hunt. But in the sense that I represent 600,000 taxpayers, I think I do have a reasonable reason to be somewhat concerned about it.
These hearings took place on December 6 and 14, 1995, and the record of the hearings was published on January 1, 1997.
None of my American slang reference books from the 1990s has an entry for "I don't have a dog in this [or that] hunt." But Google Books lists many instances of the phrase from the past fifteen years.
edited Feb 3 '15 at 7:07
answered Feb 2 '15 at 5:46
Sven YargsSven Yargs
115k20251508
115k20251508
1
Closely related, and possibly more often used: "That dog won't hunt" and "That dog don't hunt".
– Erik Kowal
Feb 2 '15 at 6:34
1
@ErikKowal: I was just recollecting as I wrote this answer that when I lived in Texas (in the late 1970s) the phrase "That dog won't hunt" was the punchline of a rambling joke involving a fast talker who is trying to trick a country fellow into buying a worthless but expensive dog. Ann Richards (then governor of Texas) used the phrase in her keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 1988. So it appears to be at least a little older than "I don't have a dog in this hunt."
– Sven Yargs
Feb 2 '15 at 7:01
11
@Erik: I don't think so. "I don't have a dog in this hunt" means I do not have any vested interest; whereas "That dog won't hunt" means the object under consideration is worn out, past its prime, not worth the price. The only relation is that the words 'dog' and 'hunt' are used in both.
– cobaltduck
Feb 2 '15 at 13:04
1
+1 for good citations, and because I learned something. I've never heard the saying in five years in Texas.
– Dewi Morgan
Feb 4 '15 at 6:47
As a born-and-bred Texan, I don't recall ever hearing "a dog in this hunt." Must be one of those things that's just escaped me. My cousin raises dogs to hunt hogs--I'd go with him but I hate running. :-P
– miltonaut
Feb 10 '15 at 0:14
add a comment |
1
Closely related, and possibly more often used: "That dog won't hunt" and "That dog don't hunt".
– Erik Kowal
Feb 2 '15 at 6:34
1
@ErikKowal: I was just recollecting as I wrote this answer that when I lived in Texas (in the late 1970s) the phrase "That dog won't hunt" was the punchline of a rambling joke involving a fast talker who is trying to trick a country fellow into buying a worthless but expensive dog. Ann Richards (then governor of Texas) used the phrase in her keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 1988. So it appears to be at least a little older than "I don't have a dog in this hunt."
– Sven Yargs
Feb 2 '15 at 7:01
11
@Erik: I don't think so. "I don't have a dog in this hunt" means I do not have any vested interest; whereas "That dog won't hunt" means the object under consideration is worn out, past its prime, not worth the price. The only relation is that the words 'dog' and 'hunt' are used in both.
– cobaltduck
Feb 2 '15 at 13:04
1
+1 for good citations, and because I learned something. I've never heard the saying in five years in Texas.
– Dewi Morgan
Feb 4 '15 at 6:47
As a born-and-bred Texan, I don't recall ever hearing "a dog in this hunt." Must be one of those things that's just escaped me. My cousin raises dogs to hunt hogs--I'd go with him but I hate running. :-P
– miltonaut
Feb 10 '15 at 0:14
1
1
Closely related, and possibly more often used: "That dog won't hunt" and "That dog don't hunt".
– Erik Kowal
Feb 2 '15 at 6:34
Closely related, and possibly more often used: "That dog won't hunt" and "That dog don't hunt".
– Erik Kowal
Feb 2 '15 at 6:34
1
1
@ErikKowal: I was just recollecting as I wrote this answer that when I lived in Texas (in the late 1970s) the phrase "That dog won't hunt" was the punchline of a rambling joke involving a fast talker who is trying to trick a country fellow into buying a worthless but expensive dog. Ann Richards (then governor of Texas) used the phrase in her keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 1988. So it appears to be at least a little older than "I don't have a dog in this hunt."
– Sven Yargs
Feb 2 '15 at 7:01
@ErikKowal: I was just recollecting as I wrote this answer that when I lived in Texas (in the late 1970s) the phrase "That dog won't hunt" was the punchline of a rambling joke involving a fast talker who is trying to trick a country fellow into buying a worthless but expensive dog. Ann Richards (then governor of Texas) used the phrase in her keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 1988. So it appears to be at least a little older than "I don't have a dog in this hunt."
– Sven Yargs
Feb 2 '15 at 7:01
11
11
@Erik: I don't think so. "I don't have a dog in this hunt" means I do not have any vested interest; whereas "That dog won't hunt" means the object under consideration is worn out, past its prime, not worth the price. The only relation is that the words 'dog' and 'hunt' are used in both.
– cobaltduck
Feb 2 '15 at 13:04
@Erik: I don't think so. "I don't have a dog in this hunt" means I do not have any vested interest; whereas "That dog won't hunt" means the object under consideration is worn out, past its prime, not worth the price. The only relation is that the words 'dog' and 'hunt' are used in both.
– cobaltduck
Feb 2 '15 at 13:04
1
1
+1 for good citations, and because I learned something. I've never heard the saying in five years in Texas.
– Dewi Morgan
Feb 4 '15 at 6:47
+1 for good citations, and because I learned something. I've never heard the saying in five years in Texas.
– Dewi Morgan
Feb 4 '15 at 6:47
As a born-and-bred Texan, I don't recall ever hearing "a dog in this hunt." Must be one of those things that's just escaped me. My cousin raises dogs to hunt hogs--I'd go with him but I hate running. :-P
– miltonaut
Feb 10 '15 at 0:14
As a born-and-bred Texan, I don't recall ever hearing "a dog in this hunt." Must be one of those things that's just escaped me. My cousin raises dogs to hunt hogs--I'd go with him but I hate running. :-P
– miltonaut
Feb 10 '15 at 0:14
add a comment |
Perhaps you were looking for:
I don't have any skin in the game
meaning I have no vested interest in the outcome.
1
Generally, "skin in the game" refers to a vested, financial interest, as you've noted. This question refers to a common expression that speaks more to rooting interest than financial stakes. (Though it can apply to financial stakes as well, it doesn't neccesarily imply them, as your answer does.)
– LessPop_MoreFizz
Feb 2 '15 at 14:54
1
@lesspop_morefizz "horse in the race" and "dog in the fight" both connote a financial stake as well. ask your bookie why this is.
– erich
Feb 2 '15 at 22:25
add a comment |
Perhaps you were looking for:
I don't have any skin in the game
meaning I have no vested interest in the outcome.
1
Generally, "skin in the game" refers to a vested, financial interest, as you've noted. This question refers to a common expression that speaks more to rooting interest than financial stakes. (Though it can apply to financial stakes as well, it doesn't neccesarily imply them, as your answer does.)
– LessPop_MoreFizz
Feb 2 '15 at 14:54
1
@lesspop_morefizz "horse in the race" and "dog in the fight" both connote a financial stake as well. ask your bookie why this is.
– erich
Feb 2 '15 at 22:25
add a comment |
Perhaps you were looking for:
I don't have any skin in the game
meaning I have no vested interest in the outcome.
Perhaps you were looking for:
I don't have any skin in the game
meaning I have no vested interest in the outcome.
edited Feb 2 '15 at 15:19
yoniLavi
1335
1335
answered Feb 2 '15 at 3:45
JonathanJonathan
24626
24626
1
Generally, "skin in the game" refers to a vested, financial interest, as you've noted. This question refers to a common expression that speaks more to rooting interest than financial stakes. (Though it can apply to financial stakes as well, it doesn't neccesarily imply them, as your answer does.)
– LessPop_MoreFizz
Feb 2 '15 at 14:54
1
@lesspop_morefizz "horse in the race" and "dog in the fight" both connote a financial stake as well. ask your bookie why this is.
– erich
Feb 2 '15 at 22:25
add a comment |
1
Generally, "skin in the game" refers to a vested, financial interest, as you've noted. This question refers to a common expression that speaks more to rooting interest than financial stakes. (Though it can apply to financial stakes as well, it doesn't neccesarily imply them, as your answer does.)
– LessPop_MoreFizz
Feb 2 '15 at 14:54
1
@lesspop_morefizz "horse in the race" and "dog in the fight" both connote a financial stake as well. ask your bookie why this is.
– erich
Feb 2 '15 at 22:25
1
1
Generally, "skin in the game" refers to a vested, financial interest, as you've noted. This question refers to a common expression that speaks more to rooting interest than financial stakes. (Though it can apply to financial stakes as well, it doesn't neccesarily imply them, as your answer does.)
– LessPop_MoreFizz
Feb 2 '15 at 14:54
Generally, "skin in the game" refers to a vested, financial interest, as you've noted. This question refers to a common expression that speaks more to rooting interest than financial stakes. (Though it can apply to financial stakes as well, it doesn't neccesarily imply them, as your answer does.)
– LessPop_MoreFizz
Feb 2 '15 at 14:54
1
1
@lesspop_morefizz "horse in the race" and "dog in the fight" both connote a financial stake as well. ask your bookie why this is.
– erich
Feb 2 '15 at 22:25
@lesspop_morefizz "horse in the race" and "dog in the fight" both connote a financial stake as well. ask your bookie why this is.
– erich
Feb 2 '15 at 22:25
add a comment |
The actual meaning you are looking for is "I don't have an interest in this matter." but the everyday term would be "I don't have a dog in this fight". This refers to dog fights and fighting where you are not competing at all, none of the dogs are yours. Other answers seem tortured in their use. The history may well go back to hunt rather than fight but I've never heard it used.
add a comment |
The actual meaning you are looking for is "I don't have an interest in this matter." but the everyday term would be "I don't have a dog in this fight". This refers to dog fights and fighting where you are not competing at all, none of the dogs are yours. Other answers seem tortured in their use. The history may well go back to hunt rather than fight but I've never heard it used.
add a comment |
The actual meaning you are looking for is "I don't have an interest in this matter." but the everyday term would be "I don't have a dog in this fight". This refers to dog fights and fighting where you are not competing at all, none of the dogs are yours. Other answers seem tortured in their use. The history may well go back to hunt rather than fight but I've never heard it used.
The actual meaning you are looking for is "I don't have an interest in this matter." but the everyday term would be "I don't have a dog in this fight". This refers to dog fights and fighting where you are not competing at all, none of the dogs are yours. Other answers seem tortured in their use. The history may well go back to hunt rather than fight but I've never heard it used.
answered Feb 2 '15 at 20:01
ElliotElliot
491
491
add a comment |
add a comment |
protected by Community♦ Jul 11 '17 at 16:10
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
26
Clearly, the answer is "I don't have a snake on this plane."
– corsiKa
Feb 2 '15 at 23:59
6
I think it's relevant to point out that in this situation Google does a good job at finding possibilities, if you surround the phrase in quotes " and use an asterisk * for missing words: goo.gl/9aj4SE Ignoring this page which is the top result, the two suggestions in the accepted answer are the next two results (for me at least).
– Andrew Chinery
Feb 3 '15 at 11:26
3
@AndrewChinery Huh, that's super cool. I thought I was an expert googler, but I didn't know you could do that :). Incidentally, for me at the moment, horse in the race is #2, dog in the fight is #4. #3 wins for best tortured metaphor: "I don't have a pony in this race since I don't have a cat." And #5 is equally and similarly odd: "I don't have a dog in this cat fight." What? :D Also amusing, page 2 of the search is full of random SO posts that had this title in their text via "hot network posts".
– neminem
Feb 3 '15 at 16:39