Dice
 
 
Next post.
Previous post.

Like Putting Lipstick on a Pig

Like 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.

#Southernish  

Pronunciation

[lip-stick awn uh pig] /ˈlɪpstɪk ɑn ə pɪɡ/

Meaning & Usage

- Trying to make something bad look better (figurative)

Everyday use
June:
They just slapped some paint on that trailer and called it renovated.

Earl:
Yep, lipstick on a pig.

variations: lipstick on a pig, paintin’ a pig, dressin’ up a pig

Origin

The 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.

Verdict: Southernish. A nationwide expression with a farm-born image and a Southern sense of humor.

Notes

  • Used to call out efforts that disguise, not fix, a real problem.
  • Common in politics, business, and everyday conversation.
  • Pairs with similar folksy phrases like "you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear."
  • Often said with dry humor or mock sympathy.

Related Pages

Common Questions

What does "lipstick on a pig" mean?
It means trying to make something look better without actually improving it.
Is it a Southern saying?
Not strictly-it’s a rural American saying, widely used but very much at home in Southern talk.
Where did it come from?
From farm life, where prettifying a pig makes no difference-it’s still a pig.
Is it still common?
Yes, especially in humor, politics, and plain-spoken conversation.

How to Cite This Page

  • APA (7th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 22). Like Putting Lipstick on a Pig. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/like-putting-lipstick-on-a-pig
  • MLA (9th edition)
    "The Hillbilly Dude." "Like Putting Lipstick on a Pig." HillbillySlang.com, 22 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/like-putting-lipstick-on-a-pig.
  • Chicago (17th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. "Like Putting Lipstick on a Pig." HillbillySlang.com. October 22, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/like-putting-lipstick-on-a-pig.
...
Slang and folklore change from place to place - this is how I know it. Read the full disclaimer and terms of use
© Hillbilly Slang | Original audio and content not for reproduction or AI training without permission. Keeping the Mountains Talking 'Til The Cows Come Home