hog
B1Informal to Neutral; can be derogatory when describing a person.
Definition
Meaning
A domesticated mammal with a stout body, short legs, and a snout, raised for its meat (pork).
A greedy, selfish, or dirty person; to take or use something selfishly or greedily; a large motorcycle (especially a Harley-Davidson).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word often carries negative connotations of greed, dirtiness, or selfishness when used metaphorically about humans. The motorcycle sense is positive and colloquial in certain subcultures. The verb sense is informal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both dialects share core meanings. 'Hog' as a motorcycle ('hog') is more strongly associated with American biker culture. The phrase 'road hog' is common in both.
Connotations
In both, calling someone a 'hog' is insulting. In the US, 'hog' can colloquially refer to a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with positive connotations for enthusiasts.
Frequency
The animal sense is equally common. The verb 'to hog' is frequent in informal contexts in both dialects. The motorcycle sense is markedly more frequent in American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
hog (sth)be a hoggo the whole hogVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go the whole hog (do something completely)”
- “live high on the hog (live in luxury)”
- “road hog”
- “hog the limelight”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could appear in agriculture ('hog futures') or informally to describe monopolising resources ('He's hogging the budget').
Academic
Rare outside of agricultural or zoological contexts.
Everyday
Common for the animal, and informally for selfish behaviour ('Stop hogging the remote!').
Technical
Primarily in animal husbandry and motorcycle engineering (informal).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Don't hog the biscuits, pass them round.
- He always hogs the bathroom in the morning.
American English
- She hogged the conversation all night.
- That truck is hogging the entire lane.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form)
- (No standard adverbial form)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form)
- (No standard adverbial form)
adjective
British English
- He's got a real hog-like appetite.
- (Rare as a standalone adjective)
American English
- He's a hog farmer from Iowa.
- It's a hog-wild party out there! (idiomatic)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The farm has cows and hogs.
- He eats like a hog!
- Please don't hog all the pizza.
- We saw a wild hog in the forest.
- The new actor is accused of hogging the limelight.
- If we're redecorating, let's go the whole hog and buy new furniture too.
- The corporation was criticised for hogging the market and stifling competition.
- He roared up on a customised hog, the chrome gleaming in the sun.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HOG sounds like 'haul' and 'gobble' – imagine an animal that HAULS its huge body around and GOBBLES up all the food selfishly.
Conceptual Metaphor
GREED/GLUTTONY IS BEING A HOG. SELFISH POSSESSION IS HOGGING.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse 'hog' (свинья, боров, хряк) with 'hedgehog' (ёж).
- The verb 'to hog' is often best translated as 'занимать что-либо, не давая другим' or 'вести себя как свинья'.
- The idiom 'go the whole hog' has no direct animal-related translation; it means 'сделать что-либо до конца'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'hog' for a young pig (use 'piglet').
- Confusing 'hogwash' (nonsense) with something for washing hogs.
- Using the verb 'hog' in overly formal contexts.
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'live high on the hog' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When referring to the animal, it's neutral. When calling a person a 'hog', it is rude, implying they are greedy, dirty, or selfish.
'Pig' is the general term. 'Hog' often refers to a larger pig, especially one reared for meat. 'Swine' is a more formal or technical term, and can also be a strong insult for a person.
Yes, but only in specific contexts. In American biker culture, calling a motorcycle (especially a Harley-Davidson) a 'hog' is a term of affection and pride.
Use it informally to mean 'to take, use, or keep something selfishly, leaving little or none for others.' Structure: Subject + hog + object (e.g., 'She hogged the microphone.', 'They are hogging the best seats.').