go whole hog

Cultural  

1. To engage in something without reservation or constraint: “At first, the general had his doubts about the plan, but finally he decided to go whole hog.”

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go whole hog Idioms  

1. Also, go the limit. Do something completely or thoroughly; proceed as far as possible. For example, Instead of just painting the room, why not go whole hog and redecorate it completely? or Let's go the limit and dig up the entire garden. Although the precise source of whole hog is disputed, this colloquialism was first recorded in 1828 (in Japhet by Frederick Marryat) as go the whole hog. Today the article is usually omitted. Go the limit, also a colloquialism, dates from the mid-1900s. Also see all out.

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Example Sentences

“My chief concern now is that we don’t allow the studios to go whole hog and destroy this beautiful thing that we’ve got all of a sudden,” Cargill said.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2022

Fayetteville officials so far don’t appear ready to go whole hog on a permanently activated outdoor drinking zone, although it’s been suggested that might be a goal eventually.

From Washington Times • Sep. 3, 2019

I know this is heresy to some, but since I’m in this far, I might as well go whole hog.

From New York Times • Jul. 27, 2014

Yet he also proves game to go whole hog when the screenplay calls for it.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2012

Let’s go whole hog and say the Southern Pacific will charge three-fifty to carry it.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• accomplish
• achieve
• close
• conclude
• determine
• develop
• do
• end
• execute
• finalize
• finish
• halt
• perform
• realize
• settle
• wrap up