pig
pig — noun
1. an animal raised on farms for meat, with a heavy body, a snout for rooting, and
an animal raised on farms for meat, with a heavy body, a snout for rooting, and a curled tail
The pig pushed its nose through the mud near the fence.
pig + push its nose through mud
Two pigs slept beside the red barn after the morning rain.
Uncle Ben fed the pig with apple peels after dinner.
A black pig ran across the yard and scared the chickens.
文法句型
feed a pig
keep pigs
pig on a farm
用法筆記
This is the animal. When you mean its meat on a plate, English usually says pork instead.
常見錯誤
2. an insulting word for someone who acts in a rude, dirty, or selfish way
an insulting word for someone who acts in a rude, dirty, or selfish way
Martin was a pig and left his dirty socks on my bed.
be a pig for rude behavior
"Don't be a pig," Eva said when Leo grabbed all the fries.
The boss acted like a pig during the meeting with interns.
Nina called her ex a pig after he lied again.
文法句型
be a pig
call someone a pig
act like a pig
用法筆記
Common after be or call someone. Distinguish from sense 4: this sense criticizes a person's behavior more generally, not just overeating.
3. a task or thing that turns out awkward, tiring, or miserable to handle
a task or thing that turns out awkward, tiring, or miserable to handle
Filling out those paper forms was a real pig on Friday.
pattern: a real pig
The last math question was a pig before lunch.
That old printer is a pig when the office gets busy.
Climbing the hill in summer heat was a pig for the children.
文法句型
be a pig
a real pig
a pig of a [task/thing]
用法筆記
Usually follows be with words like real or absolute. It is used for jobs, machines, games, or situations that feel unpleasantly hard.
4. someone who keeps eating far more food than other people expect or want to share
someone who keeps eating far more food than other people expect or want to share
At the cake table, Sam was a pig and took three big slices.
be a pig at a meal
Ben's little brother is a pig whenever Grandma serves noodles.
Marcus was a pig at lunch and finished the shared fries.
"Stop eating my chips, you pig," Rosa told her cousin.
文法句型
be a pig at the table
eat like a pig
you pig
用法筆記
Mostly said at meals, often jokingly within families. Distinguish from sense 2, which criticizes behavior in a wider way.
常見錯誤
5. a strongly insulting term aimed at the police or an officer
a strongly insulting term aimed at the police or an officer
The angry man called the officer a pig outside City Hall.
insult directed at a police officer
Protesters shouted "pig" at the police as the bus arrived.
The film shows a drunk biker yelling at a pig in jail.
Jake got thrown out after calling two pigs corrupt.
- cop
informal but far less offensive, and often neutral in speech
- fuzz
old-fashioned slang for the police
- police officer
the neutral standard term
文法句型
call a police officer a pig
shout pig at the police
用法筆記
Strongly offensive and mainly heard in anger, protest scenes, or older films. Avoid it as a neutral word for the police.
常見錯誤
pig — verb
1. of a female pig, to produce piglets
of a female pig, to produce piglets
The old sow pigged during the night and had eight piglets.
pig = give birth to piglets
Farmer Chen stayed awake because the young sow might pig early.
That white sow pigged in the corner pen before sunrise.
The vet came quickly when the first sow began to pig.
- farrow
the standard technical verb in farming English
- give birth
the broad everyday phrase, though not specific to pigs
文法句型
sow + pig
pig during the night
begin to pig
用法筆記
Only used for female pigs, especially in farming or veterinary language. In everyday English, people usually explain it with give birth rather than use pig as a verb.
2. to live in a very dirty, careless, and messy way
to live in a very dirty, careless, and messy way
After the move, three boys pigged in the flat for weeks.
intransitive: pig in a place
The brothers pigged all summer, leaving plates under every chair.
The two cousins pigged in the cabin, with wet towels on every bed.
College students sometimes pig in dorm rooms during exam week.
- slob around
informal and close in tone, often about untidy behavior
- live in squalor
more formal and much stronger
- live like an animal
a broader phrase that can suggest rough or dirty living
文法句型
pig in a room
pig for weeks
pig all summer
用法筆記
Informal and usually critical. Distinguish it from noun sense 4 and the phrasal verb pig out: this verb is about living messily, not simply eating a lot.