- Meaning
- This idiom describes someone who eats greedily, messily, or with poor manners, often consuming large quantities without restraint. It evokes the image of a pig’s voracious and untidy feeding, suggesting a lack of refinement or self-control. The phrase is used in social, familial, or casual contexts, typically with a critical or teasing tone, though it can be affectionate among close relations. It reflects cultural associations of pigs with gluttony and messiness, often carrying a judgmental undertone about dining etiquette or excess.
- Origin
- The phrase likely emerged in 16th-century England, where pigs were symbols of greed and filth in rural life and literature. An early use appears in John Skelton’s 1521 poem *Why Come Ye Not to Court*, describing gluttonous behavior as ‘pig-like.’ The modern form, ‘eat like a pig,’ was common by the 18th century, with Samuel Johnson’s 1755 *Dictionary* noting ‘pig’ as a term for gluttony. It gained traction in the 19th century, as seen in Charles Dickens’ *Oliver Twist* (1838), reflecting Victorian concerns with manners. Its use in American English grew during the 20th century, particularly in domestic settings, where it became a playful or scolding rebuke for messy eating.
- Variants
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- Eat like a pig
- Eating like a pig
- Eat like a hog
- Feed like a pig
- Examples
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- He was eating like a pig, spilling sauce all over the table at dinner.
- Don’t eat like a hog—use a napkin and slow down!
- She laughed at her son eating like a pig, gobbling up the pizza with both hands.
- Eating like a pig, he left crumbs and wrappers scattered across the couch.
- They fed like pigs at the barbecue, piling their plates with ribs and cornbread.
- Eat like a pig if you must, but clean up the mess afterward.
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