“I’ve had a pig of a time trying to get this computer to work again“
“He knows as much about coaching a football team as a pig knows about Sunday.“
“Justin is making such a pig of himself“
Have you heard of any of those idioms before? Do you know what they mean? These are just 3 of my favorite pig idioms that we are going to look at in this post.
Let’s dive right in!
11 Pig Idioms (Examples & Definitions)
To Put Lipstick On A Pig
When a person is trying to make something look more attractive than it really is, we say it is like they are putting lipstick on a pig. In other words, even with lipstick, a pig isn’t going to look that much better. The improvements are only superficial.
“Even though we remodeled the store, it was like putting lipstick on a pig. From the outside itt looks good, but we still have the same problems. If we want to see improvements, we need to take a closer look at management.”
To Sweat Like A Pig
Interestingly pigs only produce a small amount of sweat, however, when we say that someone is sweating like a pig, we are saying that they are sweating a lot. To sweat profusely.
“Man, it is hot out here. It is only 8:00 in the morning and I am sweating like a pig.”
You may also enjoy reading: 12 Idioms For Something That Is Never Going To Happen
In A Pig’s Whisper
To do something in a pig’s whisper means to do it really quickly. To do something in a small amount of time.
“Once again I apologize for the mixup. I told the guys in the warehouse and they will have your order out in a pig’s whisper.”
To Know As Much About Something As A Pig Knows About Sunday
To know as much about something as a pig knows about Sunday is a funny way to say that someone knows nothing about that subject.
“Mario likes to tell me how to coach my football team, but what does he know about coaching? He knows as much about coaching a football team as a pig knows about Sunday.”
To Be As Happy As A Pig In Muck/Mud/Clover
On a hot summer day, pigs like to be in the mud. So, to say that someone is as happy as a pig in a muck/mud is a humorous way to say that they are extremely happy about their current situation.
“The first thing he did when came home was plop himself down in front of the TV. After such a long trip, George was happy as a pig, to be in his home again.”
Even A Blind Pig Can Find An Acorn Once In A While
To say that even a blind pig can find an acorn once in a while is to say that sometimes even people who are usually wrong can be right. The emphasis here is on sometimes, because it usually is only by accident, much like a blind pig finding an acorn on its own.
“I think we should listen to Matt, I think he could be right this time. After all, even a blind pig can find an acorn once in a while, right?
You may also enjoy reading: 10 Useful Idioms About Hope (Examples & Definitions)
To Make A Pig Of Oneself
To make a pig of oneself means to eat too much, usually, all in one sitting. To overeat. It can also refer to how a person is eating. It could mean that they are eating very loudly, or that they are making a mess of themselves.
“Justin is making such a pig of himself. He is acting like he has never had pizza before.”
To Be Like A Greased Pig
This idiom comes from a game in which a pig was greased and then let loose. The objective of the game was to catch the pig. Well, you can imagine how hard it would be to catch a greased pig. With that thought in mind, this expression refers to someone who is so quick that nobody can catch them.
“He may not seem like it, but on the football field, he is like a greased pig. No one can catch him.”
To Be As Sick As A Pig
When someone says that a person is as sick as a pig, it means that they are really upset or very annoyed about something.
“When Jeff found out how much money we lost over the weekend, he was as sick as a pig. I have a feeling that there will be some changes to our marketing strategies in the very near future.”
To Be A Pighead
A pighead is someone who is both stupid and stubborn. They are narrow-minded and inflexible. Unreasonable.They can also be called pigheaded.
“Steve is being such a pighead right now. He doesn’t want to listen to anybody else’s suggestions.”
To Be/To Have A Pig Of Something
When you hear someone say that they had a pig of time doing something, it means that it was a very difficult task or that it was an unpleasant experience. Something that they don’t want to do again.
“You know, I’ve had a pig of a time trying to get this computer to work again, but I still can’t figure out what’s wrong. Can you give me a hand?”
There you have it! 11 of my favorite pig idioms. Which one is your favorite?
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out our idiom of the day page. There we post a new idiom every day!
