Origin of a saying

[Susie-Q]

What is the origin for the saying 'I'll put a bug in his ear?'

[Quizmonster]

This is just a variant of 'a flea in his ear', which has been around for about half a millennium. Click http://www.wordwithyou.com/columns/3_1_00.gif for more information. The basic reference is to a dog scratching annoyedly at an actual flea in its ear.

[woofgang]

kind of apropos, I believe that the german phrase for a piece of music or catchphrase that you can't get out of your head is "an earworm" sorry, don't know the german though

[Quizmonster]

'Ohrwurm' - literally 'earworm'...our 'earwig' - is German for a catchy tune.