Living High on the Hog
High on the hog means living well or in luxury, often after coming into money or success. It compares a comfortable life to eating the choice cuts of meat that come from higher up on a hog.
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When somebody starts to spend - maybe a little more than they orta - we might say 'they're livin’ high on the hog.' When somebody starts to spend - maybe a little more than they orta - we might say 'they're livin’ high on the hog.' Pronunciation
Meaning & Usage
- Living in luxury or enjoying success
They moved into that big brick house already?Yep - they’re livin’ high on the hog now.Origin
The phrase dates back to the late 1800s and refers to eating the best (upper) cuts of pork, which come from the hog’s back and ribs rather than the lower parts used for cheaper meat.
It first appeared in print around 1920, often in American newspapers describing soldiers, ranchers, or prosperous families as "living high on the hog." The saying spread nationwide but became particularly common in Southern and country speech, where hog-raising and pork eating were part of daily life.
Verdict: Southernish. It fits Southern talk perfectly but is used broadly across America and likely originated from rural food culture, not a single region.
Notes
- Used humorously or admiringly to describe comfort, wealth, or indulgence.
- Pairs naturally with other food-based idioms like "go whole hog" or "living off the fat of the land."
- Appears in countless songs, novels, and rural humor pieces since the 1920s.
- Still a well-known American expression, especially in Southern or country speech.