blind pig: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Historical, Slang
Quick answer
What does “blind pig” mean?
An establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages, especially during a period of prohibition.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages, especially during a period of prohibition.
Historically, a slang term for a speakeasy or unlicensed bar, often operating covertly. Can also refer, in some modern contexts, to a private gathering where alcohol is sold without a license. Not to be confused with a legitimate tavern or pub.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American due to its origin in U.S. Prohibition. In British contexts, 'speakeasy' is understood historically, but 'blind pig' is rarely used or recognised. Britons might use more generic terms like 'shebeen' (from Irish/Scottish usage) for an unlicensed pub.
Connotations
In the U.S., it carries strong historical and cultural connotations related to the 1920s, gangsters, and illicit drinking. In the UK, if recognised, it is seen as an Americanism with those specific historical associations.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern UK English. In the U.S., it is used in historical discussions, period dramas, or occasionally humorously to refer to an informal, unlicensed drinking spot.
Grammar
How to Use “blind pig” in a Sentence
The police raided [the blind pig].They were running [a blind pig] in the basement.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blind pig” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not used as a verb in British English)
American English
- (Rarely verbed) The gang was accused of 'blind-pigging' in the old warehouse district.
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- (Not used adjectivally in British English)
American English
- They had a 'blind-pig' operation going on behind the bookstore.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in standard business contexts. Could appear in historical business case studies about regulation.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or American studies texts discussing Prohibition.
Everyday
Virtually never used in modern casual conversation except in specific historical references or jokes.
Technical
Not a technical term. Used in historical law enforcement contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blind pig”
- Using it to refer to a legal bar. Confusing it with 'blind tiger' (a similar term, sometimes distinguished by the method of operation). Using it in a modern context without historical framing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is extremely rare in modern usage. It is primarily a historical term and might be used for stylistic effect in writing about the past or humorously to describe an informal party.
They are largely synonymous. Some historical sources suggest a 'blind pig' was a lower-class establishment, possibly where alcohol was sold under the pretext of another transaction (like paying to see an attraction, such as a 'blind pig'), while a 'speakeasy' might be more upscale. In modern understanding, the terms are used interchangeably.
Most people in the UK would not understand the term without context. If discussing American history, you would need to explain it. Using it to describe a modern British pub would be incorrect and confusing.
Not inherently offensive, but it is a slang term implying illegality. Calling a legitimate, licensed establishment a 'blind pig' would be factually wrong and potentially insulting, suggesting it operates outside the law.
An establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages, especially during a period of prohibition.
Blind pig is usually informal, historical, slang in register.
Blind pig: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblaɪnd ˈpɪɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblaɪnd ˈpɪɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated. The term itself is idiomatic.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PIG that is BLIND to the law—it operates secretly, selling alcohol illegally.
Conceptual Metaphor
ILLEGALITY IS BLINDNESS (operating outside the sight of the law). ESTABLISHMENT IS AN ANIMAL (pig, implying something crude or base).
Practice
Quiz
In which historical context is the term 'blind pig' most accurately used?