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| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Origin: | Probably from an unrecorded Old English picga |
1
a farm animal with short legs, a fat body, and a curved tail. Pigs are kept for their meat, which includes pork, bacon and ham [= hog American English] He kept pigs and poultry.
animal
HBAHe kept pigs and poultry.2
person
spokena) someone who eats too much or eats more than their share :
b) someone who is unpleasant in some way, for example unkind or very untidy : They live like pigs in that house over the road. You can tell him from me he's an ignorant pig.
They live like pigs in that house over the road.You can tell him from me he's an ignorant pig. (male) chauvinist pig (=a man who thinks women are not equal to men)
3 an offensive word for a police officer. Do not use this word.
police
taboo informalSCP4 something that is very difficult or unpleasant to do : They're improving, and they're a pig of a team to beat.
a pig (of a something)
British English spokenThey're improving, and they're a pig of a team to beat.5 to do something very badly : Someone's made a right pig's ear of these repairs.
make a pig's ear of something
British English spokenSomeone's made a right pig's ear of these repairs.6 used to show that you do not believe what someone is saying
in a pig's eye
American English spoken informal7 something you bought without seeing it first and that is not as good or valuable as you expected :
pig in a poke
spoken8 used to say that you do not think something will happen : 'Someone might have handed in your pass.' 'Yes, and pigs might fly.'
pigs might fly
spoken'Someone might have handed in your pass.' 'Yes, and pigs might fly.'