Proverbs: Known like a pack of hounds

Sure, this idiom is easy to explain at first glance. Coloured, i.e. spotted dogs are rarer than single-coloured ones. Therefore, the recognition value is high. People with special characteristics can therefore also be known, like "a colourful dog". Originally, however, the expression, which dates back to the 17th century, was not meant in a nice way at all. When applied to people, it described nasty character traits. But nobody knows that any more. Apart from you now.