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high on the hog

(idiomatic, US) Well off; living comfortably or extravagantly due to great wealth or financial security.

ˈhaɪ ˈɑn ðə ˈhɑɡDocumented since 1800sSilenthistorical38 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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Born ~1800 · no dated citations yet
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#1·Apr 27, 2026

(idiomatic, US) Well off; living comfortably or extravagantly due to great wealth or financial security.

Ever since his promotion, they’ve been living high on the hog.
Origin: An allusion to the best and costliest cuts of meat from a hog, considered to be parts above the belly such as the loin, rather than lower parts such as the feet, knuckles, hocks, belly, and jowls. US, late 1800s; popularized 1940s. The variant forms – live/eat and on/off – are attested since at least the 1930s. However, decades earlier is the phrase on the hog, originally on the hog train meaning someone living on little expense. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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