Like Putting Lipstick on a PigLike putting lipstick on a pig means trying to make something ugly, cheap, or flawed look fancy or appealing. It’s a colorful rural American saying that sounds perfectly Southern but is used nationwide. Hillbilly Dude Says... Hillbilly Dude Says... Pronunciation[lip-stick awn uh pig] /ˈlɪpstɪk ɑn ə pɪɡ/ Meaning & Usage- Trying to make something bad look better (figurative)
June:
Earl:
variations: lipstick on a pig, paintin’ a pig, dressin’ up a pig OriginThe phrase comes from rural and agricultural humor, describing the futility of trying to "pretty up" a pig-an animal that’s going right back to the mud. It appeared in print by the mid-20th century and has been used across the U.S. ever since. The imagery feels especially Southern because of the region’s long association with farm life and plain-spoken wit, though it isn’t exclusive to the South.
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