Even a Blind Hog Finds an Acorn Now and Then
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "Even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then" means that even someone inept or unlucky will occasionally succeed. It’s a down-home proverb rooted in farm life.
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Hillbilly Dude Says...
You'll still hear 'even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then' nowadays. Hillbilly Dude Says...
You'll still hear 'even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then' nowadays. Pronunciation
[EE-vun uh BLIND HOG
finds an AY-kern now an then]
finds an AY-kern now an then]
Meaning & Usage
- Even the unlucky get lucky sometimes (proverb)
Mae:
He never wins, but look at that hand!
He never wins, but look at that hand!
Earl:
Well, even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then.
Well, even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then.- Good fortune for someone unskilled (figurative)
Mae:
He don’t know antiques but he found a valuable lamp.
He don’t know antiques but he found a valuable lamp.
Earl:
Even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then.
Even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then.variations: even a blind hawg finds an acorn, even a blind hog’ll find an acorn
★ This saying reflects free-range hog life - in the old South, hogs roamed oak woods and found acorns on their own. Even a blind one could still root up an acorn eventually. ★
Origin and Etymology
Documented in 19th-century Southern newspapers and oral traditions. Drawn from the everyday sight of hogs foraging acorns in the woods - a deeply Southern/Appalachian image turned into a proverb.
Usage Notes
Still widely recognized in Southern/Appalachian speech. Less common outside the region but instantly understandable. Often said with a smile or as a gentle tease.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then." Often shortened to "even a blind hog finds an acorn" or "even a blind hog’ll find an acorn."
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 9). Even a Blind Hog Finds an Acorn Now and Then. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/even-a-blind-hog-finds-an-acorn-now-and-then
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Even a Blind Hog Finds an Acorn Now and Then." HillbillySlang.com, 9 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/even-a-blind-hog-finds-an-acorn-now-and-then.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Even a Blind Hog Finds an Acorn Now and Then." HillbillySlang.com. November 9, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/even-a-blind-hog-finds-an-acorn-now-and-then.
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