You breed of the MILLER's dog, you lick your lips (mouth) ere the poke be open

Insights

Unseemly Greed

The proverb is a sharp rebuke of avarice and greed. It criticizes individuals who display an unseemly and premature eagerness for something they desire, revealing their covetous nature before the item is even offered or secured.

Impatience and Lack of Restraint

It serves as a metaphor for impatience and a lack of self-restraint. The person, like the dog, cannot control their anticipation and reveals their desires too early, demonstrating a lack of decorum and social grace.

Presumption and Entitlement

The saying targets a sense of entitlement and presumption. The 'miller's dog' expects to be fed; likewise, the targeted person acts as if they have a right to the reward, showing their anticipation as if the outcome is already guaranteed in their favor.

Warning Against Premature Certainty

It warns against counting on uncertain outcomes. By 'licking your lips' before the 'poke is open', an individual is setting themselves up for disappointment and ridicule should the expected reward not materialize.

Historical Symbolism of the Miller

The proverb draws on the historical stereotype of the miller as a prosperous, and often greedy, figure in the community. A miller's dog would be well-fed and accustomed to abundance, making it a potent symbol of ingrained gluttony and the expectation of unearned reward.

Psychological Exposure

This saying offers a sharp psychological critique of covetousness, portraying it as a primal, almost animalistic impulse. The act of licking the lips is an involuntary reflex that exposes a person's lack of self-control and reveals their inner desires before they can be politely masked.

Socio-Economic Context

In a pre-industrial society, the 'poke' or sack of grain represented fundamental sustenance and economic value. The proverb is rooted in the everyday realities of an agrarian economy, making its warning against premature claims on resources both practical and universally understood.

Critique of Character

The insult 'breed of the miller's dog' suggests that such greed is not a temporary state but an innate, inherited character flaw. It implies the person comes from a 'stock' of avarice, making the criticism particularly deep and personal.

Rhetorical Devices

Animal Metaphor

The entire proverb functions as a powerful animal metaphor, comparing a covetous person to a greedy dog to emphasize the primal, undignified nature of their desire.

Visceral Imagery

The image of a dog licking its lips is a strong, visceral one that effectively conveys an uncontrollable and base level of anticipation and hunger.

Ad Hominem Insult

The opening phrase, 'You breed of the miller's dog', is a form of direct, accusatory address that functions as a sharp, memorable insult.

Symbolism

The 'poke' (a sack) serves as a symbol for any anticipated gain, reward, or resource, while the 'miller's dog' symbolizes ingrained greed.