   Livin’ High on the HogIn Southern and Appalachian speech, "livin’ high on the hog" means living in luxury or enjoying the best of things. The saying comes from hog butchering, where the cuts higher up on the pig - like the loin and chops - were considered the finest. #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Animals #People&Relationships #Southern #FarmTalk Hillbilly Dude Says...  When somebody starts to spend - maybe a little more than they orta - we might say 'they're livin’ high on the hog.' Pronunciation[LIV-in HAH on thuh HAWG] Meaning & Usage- Living in comfort or luxury (verb phrase)
Mae:
How’s he doin’ with that new job?
Earl:
Oh, he’s livin’ high on the hog now.- Enjoying the best of things (verb phrase, figurative)
Mae:
See their new truck?
Earl:
Yep, they’re livin’ high on the hog these days.★ The phrase is still used with pride or teasing, often when someone’s "puttin’ on" or showing off better living than they’re used to. ★ OriginThe saying comes from hog butchering: the cuts higher up on the hog - loin, tenderloin, and chops - were prized as the best meat. Poorer folks often got the lower cuts. By the 1800s, "high on the hog" spread in Southern speech to mean living well. NotesStill common in Southern and Appalachian talk, especially among older generations. Recognized elsewhere in the U.S., but often sounds country or old-fashioned outside the South. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "liv-in high on thuh hawg." The "g" is dropped and "hog" often stretches to "hawg." | About We are a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia, but wide as the world. Read more... |
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