Posted on February 2, 2025 
by arslohgo
0
This collection is a kind of add-on to “beware the hog” and presents a variety of transformations that result from the exchange of a single letter in the title phrase.
The warning signs are not really to be taken seriously, although one or two could well be real—“beware of dog” is a common warning, but not really in the ambiguity presented here. Since the term is sometimes based on more than two meanings by changing the initial letter, in these cases there are two signs with the same title. The individual signs should not be overloaded too much, hence the limitation to two meanings.
The graphic elements used for the warning signs are slightly modified license-free clipart and photo graphics.
Beware of bog (1)
‘Bog’ in colloquial language finds its German equivalent in the term ‘Klo’, in slang or vulgar language it stands for ‘Scheißhaus’. You can certainly think of a number of reasons why you should be wary of ‘bogs’—especially when they fly towards you…
Beware of bog (2)
In a broader sense, ‘bog’ corresponds to the German terms ‘Sumpf’, ‘Moor’ or ‘Morast’—the colloquial language presumably builds on these (also geological) meanings. A warning sign certainly makes sense here, in fact there are such signs with the inscription “Warning deep bog” or “Caution deep bog”.
Beware of cog
An old sailing ship and the sun in the sky, you might think. That’s not quite the case. An old sailing ship—yes, a cog, in German ‘Kogge’, but what is in the sky is in German a ‘Zahnrad’—another meaning of ‘cog’, among others.
So, be careful…
Beware of dog
The warning sign that serves as a source for further transformations. Also ambiguous in this version. In addition to the well-known German meaning of ‘dog’, there is another meaning here (of many other meanings, especially in the field of technology): the ‘Schlepphaken’ in German—both equally dangerous under certain circumstances, i.e. a justified warning.
Beware of hog
‘Hog’ refers as well to the animal (‘Schwein’ in German) as it is used colloquially to refer to a motorcycle (‘Bock’ or ‘Mühle’). A warning about pigs may be exaggerated, but when it comes to motorcyclists… As always, it’s in the eye of the beholder. However, it is by no means intended to refer to motorcyclists as “pigs”, just as the reverse is rather unlikely.
Beware of fog
“Here’s no explanation needed, although ‘fog’ is also used in photography. In photography the term refers to a disturbing optical density that is spread over the entire image. There are such warning signs, but not in the form shown here. For example, they are available with the inscription “FOG” (GER, addition to the caution traffic sign) or the addition “FOG in road traffic” (AUT) or “FOG AREA” (USA).
Beware of log (1)
“Log” is used with a variety of meanings, mostly in connection with wood and also in connection with writing. This sign is used to warn against both log meaning “Knüppelholz” in German and logarithms (“Logarithmen”). The extent to which there is a direct connection between wood and logarithms does not appear obvious at first glance. Perhaps you throw wood at someone who doesn’t know how to calculate logarithms?
Beware of log (2)
In another use, “log” stands for a certain form of writing, in the case of this warning sign for notes (‘Notizen’, Mitschrift’, ‘Aufzeichnungen’)—alongside other meanings in German such as ‘Protokoll’, ‘Tagebuch’ or ‘Fahrtenbuch’. Within appropriate contexts, logs can develop a certain explosiveness in retrospect and become dangerous for others—in this sense, a corresponding warning might definitely be worth considering.
Beware of mog
To come straight to the point, the colloquial use of the term ‘mog’ may be controversial in times of gender correctness. Nevertheless, it is part of the language and as such is used here without any discriminatory ulterior motive. ‘Mog’ is a colloquial term for a cat and is also used in vulgar language to refer to a girl/bedmate (‘Mieze’ in German). Whatever can be dangerous about ‘mogs’ is not immediately obvious—but the main thing is that there is a warning sign…