High on the hog

Meaning

The idiom "high on the hog" means to be overly confident or arrogant, often to an excessive degree. It implies that someone is behaving as if they are in a superior position or have more power than they actually do. The phrase can also suggest that someone is being disrespectful or rude towards others.

Usage

• After winning the game, John was high on the hog and taunted his opponents mercilessly.
• Despite facing criticism from her colleagues, Sarah remained high on the hog and refused to admit her mistakes.
• The new CEO's arrogance was palpable; he treated everyone like they were beneath him.
• When John found out that his classmates had cheated on their exam, he became high on the hog and threatened to expose them.
• Sarah's condescending attitude towards her subordinates made it clear that she was high on the hog. The usage of this idiom can vary depending on the context. It can be used in a more informal setting, such as with friends or family, where it may be acceptable to use more casual language. However, it is generally not appropriate to use this idiom in a professional or formal setting.

Roots and History

The exact origins of the idiom "high on the hog" are unclear, but it has been used in English since at least the 16th century. One theory suggests that it comes from the practice of feeding hogs with acorns or other nuts, which could cause them to become overly confident and aggressive. Another theory suggests that it comes from the idea of being "high" or intoxicated, which could make someone behave in an arrogant or disrespectful manner. Over time, the meaning of this idiom has remained relatively consistent, but its usage may have become more widely accepted or less frowned upon. It is still generally considered impolite or inappropriate to use this idiom in a professional or formal setting, however.

Synonyms in English

• Puffed up
• Overconfident
• Arrogant
• Smug
• Self-righteous

Synonyms in other languages

• French: Hautain (haughty)
• Spanish: Pigüeñón (rude)
• Italian: Cattivo (mocking)
• German: Hochmütig (arrogant)
• Japanese: 自得意 (smug)

Similar Idioms

• heads up

• have eyes only for

• have a cow