sayings

[emdownie1966]

what is ment by give a dog a bad name and hang him

[xyzzy@bok]

similar to when they say 'if you throw mud it sticks' i.e. if you call your dog Killer, people may start believing it but it's a proverb and can apply to more than just dogs.

[Lennon]

It means that you have to think about how people will perceive things and what their judgement will be because of your actions. Like xyzzy says, if you named your dog Killer then people would assume that he's been given that name for a reason. But 'Killer' could be the sweetest dog ever who wouldn't hurt a fly, but no one will go near the poor thing because of your action (ie, naming him) - so what chance has he got? Like if someone goes for an interview for an accounts position and gets the job, but they lie and say they are experienced - then as they're going out another employee says to the interviewer who's just given him the job 'oh, I know that bloke - he's been on the dole all his life and has never had a job'. The interviewer then retracts his offer - the employee who told the interviewer had given the guy his 'bad name' and then 'hung him' as he didn't get the job. I really hope you understand what I've just put! :)