PhrasesHub

Whole hog

    Definitions

      • to do something completely or thoroughly
        To fully commit to or engage in a task or activity without hesitation or reservation, often with enthusiasm and energy

      • to do something in an extravagant or excessive manner
        To go all out or overboard in pursuing or indulging in something, often resulting in unnecessary or wasteful actions or expenses

      • to do something with great attention to detail
        To pay close attention to every aspect of a task or activity, leaving no stone unturned and ensuring that everything is done perfectly or with precision

    Examples of Whole hog

    • John invited his entire family for dinner, including his parents, siblings, and cousins. He went whole hog with the menu, preparing a turkey, ham, and roast beef.

      The idiom "going whole hog" means to do something completely or entirely. In this example, John invited all of his family members and prepared a variety of meats for the meal, which shows that he was fully committed to making the dinner a success.

    • The company decided to invest all of its resources into the new project, going whole hog with the marketing campaign and hiring additional staff to handle the increased workload.

      Here, the company is committing all of its resources and efforts into the new project, leaving nothing behind. By going whole hog, the company is showing its full support and dedication to the project's success.

    • The teacher assigned a challenging project to the students, but some of them balked at the workload and only did the bare minimum. The students who went whole hog with the project, however, received top grades and earned praise from the teacher.

      In this example, "going whole hog" means to fully engage and commit oneself to a task or project. The students who went whole hog were fully invested in the project, completing all of the required work and going above and beyond expectations. As a result, they received higher grades and recognition from the teacher.

    • The team was struggling to meet their sales goals, but they decided to go whole hog and implement a new marketing strategy. The strategy was a success, and the team exceeded their sales targets for the quarter.

      Here, "going whole hog" means to take a bold and decisive action. The team recognized that they needed to make a change in order to achieve their goals, and they committed fully to the new marketing strategy. As a result, they were able to exceed their sales targets and achieve success.

    • The athlete trained tirelessly for the competition, going whole hog with her preparation. She arrived at the event feeling confident and ready to compete.

      In this example, "going whole hog" means to put in a lot of effort and preparation. The athlete recognized that the competition would be challenging, and she committed fully to her training in order to prepare herself for the event. By going whole hog with her preparation, she arrived at the competition feeling confident and ready to compete.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "whole hog" is used to convey the idea of complete or thorough involvement in a particular task or activity. It can be used to caution against engaging in something that will not result in any positive outcome, or to describe someone who is fully committed and enthusiastic about a task or activity. It can also be used to describe someone who goes overboard or indulges in something excessively, or who pays close attention to every detail and ensures perfection in their actions.

    Origin of "Whole hog"

    The origin of the idiom "whole hog" is believed to come from the practice of roasting a whole pig on a spit. This would require complete and thorough involvement, as well as attention to detail, in order to cook the pig properly. The phrase was first recorded in the United States in the early 19th century and was likely used in reference to this culinary tradition.

    Another theory suggests that the idiom may have originated from the practice of butchering a pig, where the animal is cut into various parts. By choosing to take the "whole hog", one would be fully committing to the task and leaving no part of the animal behind.

    Regardless of its exact origin, the idiom "whole hog" has come to be commonly used in everyday language to describe different levels of commitment, involvement, and attention to detail.