hog
/hɒɡ/ (bre, ipa) · /hɔːɡ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhȯg ˈhäg/ (ame, mw) · /hɑːɡ/ (ame, ipa)
hog — noun
1. an adult pig raised on a farm, typically killed and processed once it reaches a
an adult pig raised on a farm, typically killed and processed once it reaches a large enough size for the meat trade.
Selim's uncle keeps a dozen hogs on his farm in Iowa.
collocation: keep/raise hogs
The price of corn directly affects how much it costs to feed a hog.
collocation: feed a hog
At the state fair, Cole won a blue ribbon for his prize hog.
Astrid ordered a pulled pork sandwich, which is made from shredded hog meat.
When autumn arrived, the farmer sold six of his fattest hogs at the local market.
用法筆記
In American English, 'hog' is the everyday word for a pig raised for meat. In British English, 'pig' is used more broadly; 'hog' there often refers specifically to a large adult pig. The collective noun is 'herd of hogs', and a male breeding pig is called a 'boar'.
常見錯誤
2. a neutered adult male pig kept on a farm so it grows large and is later killed f
a neutered adult male pig kept on a farm so it grows large and is later killed for pork.
Tanvi's neighbour raises only barrows because castrated males grow faster for the meat market.
collocation: raise barrows
Selim's grandfather buys only barrows at auction, since castrated males put on weight faster.
collocation: buy barrows at auction
The farmer separates barrows from breeding stock so they reach market weight sooner.
Astrid visited a farm that specializes in barrows for the premium pork market.
- boar
an uncastrated adult male pig kept for breeding
用法筆記
Technical farming term. In the livestock industry, 'barrow' is the standard word for a neutered male hog, while 'hog' alone is used more loosely. Learners will most often encounter this sense in agricultural textbooks or market reports.
3. a person who takes or uses much more than their fair share, especially of food o
a person who takes or uses much more than their fair share, especially of food or other shared resources.
When the pizza arrived, Renata grabbed four slices before anyone else — what a hog.
exclamation: what a hog
Don't be such a hog — leave some ice cream for the rest of us.
imperative: don't be such a hog
At the buffet, Ilan piled his plate so high that strangers called him a hog.
My roommate is a total hog — he uses up all the hot water every morning.
At dinner, Cole called his cousin a hog for finishing the entire platter of ribs.
- glutton
specifically about overeating, more formal than 'hog'
- pig
similar informal insult, but broader — can mean messy or unpleasant too
- selfish pig
stronger insult combining selfishness with pig-like behaviour
- sharer
not a common insult; the opposite is described phrasally rather than with a single noun
用法筆記
Used disapprovingly to criticize selfish behaviour around shared goods. It can describe greed for food, space, attention, or possessions. When used as an insult, it carries a harsh, informal tone — comparable to calling someone 'a pig' in English.
常見錯誤
4. a young sheep that has not yet been sheared of its first fleece.
a young sheep that has not yet been sheared of its first fleece.
Soraya helps her uncle sort the hogs from the shorn ewes before the spring shearing.
collocation: sort hogs from [category]
The shearer separated the young hogs from the adult ewes before the spring roundup.
Ada's family raises sheep in New Zealand and sells each hog's first fleece.
A shepherd can tell a healthy hog from a sick one by its coat.
用法筆記
Very specialized farming term, mainly used in sheep-ranching regions such as Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the UK. A 'hog' in this sense is sometimes called a 'hogget' in Australian English. Most English speakers, including native speakers, will never encounter this sense.
hog — verb
1. to take, use, or keep something for yourself in a greedy way, not letting other
to take, use, or keep something for yourself in a greedy way, not letting other people have their fair share.
Rin's brother hogs the bathroom every morning and makes everyone late for school.
hog + shared resource (bathroom)
Christopher accused his cousin of hogging all the best seats at the concert.
hog + all the [something]
Stop hogging the ball and pass it to your teammates.
Ada's colleague hogs the conversation in every meeting, so nobody else gets a word in.
Ilan's little sister hogs the remote control and watches cartoons all afternoon.
- monopolize
more formal than 'hog'; can be neutral or negative depending on context
- corner
usually about a market or resource, e.g. 'corner the market'
- grab
less specific; describes taking quickly but not necessarily selfishly
文法句型
hog + something
用法筆記
Almost always used informally to criticize selfish behaviour about shared resources — time, space, objects, attention, or the spotlight. Frequently appears with intensifiers or adverbs: 'hog all the...', 'totally hog', 'selfishly hog'. Common objects include 'bathroom', 'remote', 'spotlight', 'road', 'conversation', and 'credit'.