It originated from badger-baiting

Dogs vs Badgers, people used to pit them against each other to fight to the death. Badgers are fierce and aggressive so it wasn’t uncommon for them to keep fighting the dog until it was dead, which is effectively what badgering someone is - harassing them until they give up.

Posted By: tim berry on August 15th 2019 at 21:56:26

Message Thread

Has verb 'to badger' got anything to do with badgers... google no help (n/m) (NCFC) - promethian1, Aug 15, 21:48:56
- It originated from badger-baiting (NCFC) - tim berry, Aug 15, 21:56:26
  - Suspicious overknowledge (n/m) (NCFC) - Augustus Pablo, Aug 15, 23:42:35
  - thx (n/m) (NCFC) - promethian1, Aug 15, 21:59:22
- Yes it has (NCFC) - Oscarnary, Aug 15, 21:54:21
  - Not quite - it’s the aggression and persistence of badgers who were made to fight dogs. (n/m) (NCFC) - tim berry, Aug 15, 21:57:52
    - Thought it was the dogs behaviour (NCFC) - Oscarnary, Aug 15, 22:03:59
      - It’s such an old phrase I don’t think anyone knows really (NCFC) - tim berry, Aug 15, 22:05:46
        
        Badger is the apex predator in Britain. (NCFC) - APB, Aug 15, 22:28:28
        
        Cornish pastis? (NCFC) - Garry Brooke, Aug 15, 22:31:25
        
        I’d go. (n/m) (NCFC) - APB, Aug 15, 22:34:26
  - ah... so they badgered the badgers rather than the badgers badgering anything... (n/m) (NCFC) - promethian1, Aug 15, 21:57:20

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