pig-out

[ pig-out ]

noun

, Slang.

1. an instance of overindulging in eating; food binge.

pig out

verb

1. slang.
   intr, adverb to gorge oneself

Word History and Origins

Origin of pig-out¹

First recorded in 1975–80; noun use of verb phrase pig out

Idioms and Phrases

Eat ravenously, gorge oneself, as in The kids pigged out on the candy they had collected on Halloween . [ Slang ; early 1970s]

Example Sentences

Or just maybe the occasional pig-out does soothe the soul and make for a happier, healthier individual.

From The Daily Beast

Bella can pig out whenever there's a carton of Ben Jerry's in the freezer.

From The Daily Beast

Greta, with one eye on her governess, was stealthily cutting a pig out of orange peel.

From Project Gutenberg

And Grace has got up at four o'clock every morning for a week and stayed up till midnight, trying to get that pig out of sight.

From Project Gutenberg

Both go out, and begin to get the real pig out, and between the two they pull it out very well.

From Project Gutenberg

An old man, with the stump of a clay pipe in his lips, was turning his pig out to grass as I approached.

From Project Gutenberg

A fello what does that is makin a pig out of hisself I think.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Pig Out

What does pig out mean?

Pig out is a verb phrase that means to eat a large or excessive amount of food in a sitting or over a short period of time, as in I am really looking forward to pigging out on Thanksgiving. 

Sometimes, pig out is followed by the word on and the food that is being eaten in large quantities, as in He got a stomachache after he pigged out on candy. The phrase is especially associated with the consumption of junk food. You could pig out on any kind of food, but the phrase is more likely to be used if the food is considered particularly unhealthy.

Pig out likens a person’s eating to that of pigs, which are known for being ravenous eaters. Usually, saying that someone eats like a pig is very rude and can be offensive. However, pig out is often used playfully and in the context of one’s own eating, perhaps to be self-deprecating. Still, saying that someone else is pigging out can be seen as negative.

The noun pig-out refers to an instance of eating in this way, as in Thanksgiving is going to be a real pig-out. 

Example: My grandfather made a huge spread for the big game and encouraged all of us to pig out.

Where does pig out come from?

The first records of pig out come from the 1970s. It is a slang phrase that draws on the popular image of pigs as gluttonous eaters. The word out is used in a similar way in other slang phrases that involve doing something to the extreme or without inhibition, such as flip out, freak out, and geek out.

People commonly use pig out when they plan to or have eaten a big meal or what they consider to be an excessive amount of food. Pig out is sometimes used in the context of a cheat day or a time when a person is treating themself.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to pig out?

• pig-out (noun)

What are some synonyms for pig out?

• gorge
• binge
• overeat

What are some words that share a root or word element with pig out? 

• pig
• out

What are some words that often get used in discussing pig out?

• food
• junk food
• excess
• eating
• overindulge
• gluttonous
• feast

How is pig out used in real life?

Pig out is commonly used in a playful or humorous way. It can be seen as negative, but it is not commonly intended to be.

I just want to go to a buffet and pig out.

— Santa (@ktsuggss) November 15, 2020

About to pig out on some bbq wings at the tap room and I couldn’t be any happier about it 🐷

— 🦋rachelle🦋 (@rachelle_janae) November 15, 2020

Made a trifle this morning, can’t wait till after dinner to pig out. pic.twitter.com/bSiiaCT3Qj

— John Peacock 🔭🪐🇮🇹🎣🚣‍♂️ (@Oztronomer) December 12, 2020

 

 

Try using pig out!

Is pig out used correctly in the following sentence?

My sister yelled at me after I pigged out on the cookies and didn’t leave any for her.