road hog: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “road hog” mean?
A person who drives selfishly or aggressively, using more than their fair share of the road and not considering other drivers.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who drives selfishly or aggressively, using more than their fair share of the road and not considering other drivers.
The term can be extended to any selfish user of a shared resource or space who behaves as if they own it, such as a cyclist who takes up the entire lane, a pedestrian blocking a sidewalk, or someone monopolizing shared equipment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood and used in both varieties, with no significant difference in meaning. The word 'hog' might be slightly more frequent in American English for metaphorical uses (e.g., 'hogging the road/remote/attention').
Connotations
Equally pejorative in both regions.
Frequency
Perhaps slightly more common in US English, but well-established in UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “road hog” in a Sentence
be + a + road hogdrive + like + a road hogVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “road hog” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Don't hog the road; move over and let others pass.
American English
- That pickup truck is hogging the entire lane.
adverb
British English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
American English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- He's got a real road-hog mentality.
American English
- I hate his road-hog driving style.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; could be used metaphorically in a meeting to describe someone monopolizing the conversation.
Academic
Extremely rare; not a technical term.
Everyday
Common in informal conversation about driving and traffic.
Technical
Not used in formal traffic engineering or law; informal label only.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “road hog”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “road hog”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “road hog”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He road hogged' is less standard; use 'hogged the road' instead).
- Confusing it with 'road rage,' which is a related but distinct concept of aggressive anger, not just selfishness.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's an informal label for inconsiderate behavior. However, the specific action of 'lane hogging' (staying in the passing/overtaking lane) is illegal in many countries and US states.
Yes, the term can be extended to any road user who behaves selfishly, though it is most commonly applied to car and truck drivers.
A 'road hog' is defined by selfish, space-hogging behavior (e.g., not letting others pass). 'Road rage' involves aggressive, angry, or violent reactions to other drivers' behavior. A road hog might trigger road rage in others.
Yes, 'to hog' something means to use or take more than your fair share of it in a selfish way. Examples: 'He's hogging the remote control.' 'Don't hog all the biscuits!'
A person who drives selfishly or aggressively, using more than their fair share of the road and not considering other drivers.
Road hog: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrəʊd ˌhɒɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈroʊd ˌhɑːɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hog the road”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a greedy pig (a hog) sprawling across the entire road, refusing to let anyone else pass.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEOPLE ARE ANIMALS (specifically, a selfish, greedy, domineering animal). A SHARED RESOURCE (the road) IS FOOD (being hogged).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following behaviors BEST defines a 'road hog'?