Meaning
What does Cone of Shame mean?
Cone of shame is an alternative reference to Elizabethan Collars, often seen on dogs and other pets after a surgery, in order to prevent them from hurting themselves.
The phrase was popularized following the release of the Disney-Pixar animation, titled Up.
I present you not the cone of shame, but the cone of happiness
Origin
What's the origin of Cone of Shame?
The first time a “cone of shame” was patented dates back to 1959, filed by Frank L. Johnson, who named the device after the Elizabethan fashion accessory; ruffs.
“Cone of shame” became a popular expression among the public, following the 2009 release of the animation Up.
In Up, the canine character, called Doug is forced to wear an Elizabethan Collar as a punishment, when behaving badly.
His shame reflects that of every other pet all across the globe, when forced to wear such an accessory.
Spread & Usage
How did Cone of Shame spread?
The aforementioned perception of shame on animals has led pet owners to use the phrase “cone of shame” in preference to the official term; Elizabethan Collar.
This became a popular phenomenon throughout the 2010’s, as more and more people endorsed the expression, resulting in the current frequency of “cone of shame” both online and offline.
Google searches for “cone of shame” skyrocketed in 2009, upon the release of Up and they have been stagnantly high ever since, hinting that the phrase is here to stay.
External resources
- University of Sydney – The Cone of Shame makes pets miserable
- Wikipedia – Elizabethan collar