pig
A1Informal for animal; derogatory slang for person/police.
Definition
Meaning
A domesticated mammal with short legs, a snout for rooting, and a stout body, raised for its meat (pork).
1) A person considered to be greedy, messy, or unpleasant. 2) A police officer (derogatory slang). 3) A mass of metal (such as iron or lead) cast into a simple shape for storage or transport (e.g., 'pig iron').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The primary meaning is the animal, but common figurative uses are highly negative, implying greed, dirtiness, or unpleasantness. The 'police' sense is dated and offensive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The animal term is identical. The verb 'to pig out' (eat greedily) is more common in AmE. BrE might use 'pig' slightly more for messiness (e.g., 'You've made a pig's ear of this').
Connotations
Equally negative for personal attributes in both dialects.
Frequency
Core animal meaning equally frequent. 'Pig out' slightly more frequent in AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[N] as object of have/raise/keep[V] pig out (on sth)[N] as modifier (pig farmer, pig meat)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pig out”
- “make a pig's ear of sth”
- “when pigs fly”
- “in a pig's eye”
- “buy a pig in a poke”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'Pig iron' in manufacturing/commodities.
Academic
In biology/agriculture for the species Sus domesticus.
Everyday
Referring to the animal or used as a mild insult.
Technical
In metallurgy ('pig iron'), in medicine ('guinea pig').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They're going to pig themselves on pizza tonight.
- Don't pig all the biscuits!
American English
- We pigged out on burgers and fries.
- He pigged the whole pizza by himself.
adverb
British English
- (None standard)
American English
- (None standard)
adjective
British English
- (Rare; usually in compounds) He works on a pig farm.
- It was a pig-ugly building.
American English
- (Rare; usually in compounds) The truck carried a pig-iron load.
- She made a pig-head decision.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I saw a pig on the farm.
- The pig is pink.
- He ate like a pig at the party.
- We raised a pig for the county fair.
- They accused the official of being a greedy pig.
- Don't buy that software without testing it—it's a pig in a poke.
- The protesters shouted 'pig!' at the riot police.
- The blast furnace produced tons of crude pig iron for export.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PIG: Pink, In a sty, Grunts.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON IS A PIG (for greed, dirtiness, or excess).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct translation as 'свинья' works for animal and insult. No equivalent for 'pig iron' (чушка). 'Guinea pig' is 'морская свинка', not related to pigs.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'pig' as a neutral verb (correct: 'pig out'). Confusing 'pig' (general) with 'hog' (often larger/castrated male).
Practice
Quiz
In metallurgy, what does 'pig' refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when referring to a person, it is a derogatory term implying they are greedy, dirty, or unpleasant. Calling a police officer a 'pig' is also highly offensive slang.
In general usage, they are synonyms. Technically, 'hog' often refers to a domesticated pig raised for slaughter, typically weighing over 54 kg (120 lbs).
Yes, in the phrasal verb 'pig out' (to eat a large amount greedily). Informally, 'pig' can also be a transitive verb meaning to consume greedily (e.g., 'He pigged the whole cake').
It's an idiom meaning 'never' or that something is impossible and will never happen. E.g., 'He'll tidy his room when pigs fly.'