Make a pig of oneself
Meaning
To eat an excessive amount of food in a greedy and unmannered way.
Origin
The image of a pig, snorting and rooting through its trough, has long been a potent symbol of unrestrained gluttony. From early agricultural societies, the domestic pig was observed to eat with an almost indiscriminate voracity, seemingly without manners or limit. This perception seeped into the English language, with 'pig' becoming a derogatory term for a greedy or untidy person by the 16th century. By the 19th century, this enduring animalistic comparison formally coalesced into the vivid idiom 'make a pig of oneself,' painting a clear picture of someone indulging in food with an embarrassing, animal-like excess.
Examples
- After not eating all day, John really made a pig of himself at the buffet, going back for a third plate.
- At the holiday feast, everyone watched in amusement as Grandpa made a pig of himself with the pecan pie.