5 Pig Idioms
This article will teach you some fun English idioms that are connected with pigs! An idiom is a phrase that has a special meaning that is different from the words it uses. Let’s learn the meaning of each idiom and how we can use them in a sentence.
Bring Home the Bacon
To earn money for your family.
Where does this idiom come from?
A long time ago in England, bacon was a very prized food. People thought that earning enough money to buy bacon was a sign of success. Over time, “bring home the bacon” came to mean earning money for your family.
In a Pig’s Eye
It means something is completely untrue or will never happen.
What’s the idea behind this idiom?
This phrase started as a funny way to say “that is not true” or “it will not happen.” The idea is that it is silly to believe something as unlikely as looking into a pig’s eye and seeing truth.
Sweating Like a Pig
Sweating a lot because of heat or hard work.
But pigs don’t sweat, right?
Although pigs don’t really sweat, the saying “sweat like a pig” comes from the iron-making process. When hot iron is poured onto sand, it cools and forms shapes known as “pig iron” because they look like pigs. As the iron cools, moisture in the air forms tiny drops on its surface, making it seem as if it is sweating. And this “pig” is definitely not something you’d want to eat.
When Pigs Fly
Something that will never happen.
What’s the idea behind this idiom?
This idiom is a playful way to say that something will never happen because pigs, of course, cannot fly. It uses a silly image to show that the idea is impossible.
Make a Pig of Yourself
To eat too much or act in a greedy way.
Where does this idiom come from?
Pigs are known for eating a lot and sometimes being messy. This idiom comes from that image. If someone “makes a pig of themselves,” it means they are acting very greedily or eating too much, just like how we imagine a pig might behave.
Enjoyed pig idioms? Then you might love exploring 20 nature idioms too!
