Mad-dogging means to stare down another person, in a menacing way, for a variety of purposes. Mad-dogging could be a form of friendly competition, such as in a staring contest, or it could signal a threat. In some cases, determining the motivation for the stare down could be extremely important.
A retired New York City police officer, Sgt. Lou Savelli, wrote in a piece for a corrections-based Web site that mad-dogging is often practiced by gangs. If law enforcement officers notice it, they should be prepared because it will likely be a precursor to violence.
The case in New Mexico is not the only one where someone was shot after a mad-dogging incident. A month after Vargas was murdered, another man was shot in Watsonville, California, after police say two groups of individuals engaged in a mad-dogging incident. In that case, the man who was shot survived after sustaining only minor injuries.
In some cases, mad-dogging is a simply staring contest between individuals. These types of competitions are common, especially among children. Though usually they are conducted with no menacing faces or threats. However, some individuals engaged in a staring contest may use a mad-dogging technique in an attempt to break the concentration of the other person. In general, however, these are not true threats.
The mad-dogging term comes from the stance that two dogs often take prior to becoming engaged in a fight. Sometimes, the dogs will attempt to stare each other down in the hopes that one will back off, or exhibit some form of weakness. With dogs, this usually involves auditory threats such as growling or barking. With human beings, often there is no verbal element to a mad-dogging event.
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: Dear All, : who could help me understand the expression “to do a mad dog” in the following sentence: “Dont worry! Ive got a great plan. Were going to do a mad dog. For the crack. Have you ever done it before?” : Precision: context: Iris English; it has to do with two persons who plan to leave a restaurant without paying. Thank you very much for your help. Best regards. Véronique Gigot
FAQ
What does it mean to be dogging someone?
What is a mad dog called?
crazed. delirious. enthusiastic. fanatical.
