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Pig's ear

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kate
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Kate

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An old acquaintance of mine here in Oz used to say "they've got the pig's ear on". I think that might mean the same as "on a line"? Not sure. :wink:
 
They've got the pig's ear on

Can't speak for Oz, but in London it would mean a barrel of ale has just been tapped.
Peter
 
I know a Pigs Ear to mean something which isnt what it was thought to be? Perhaps you expected something more, or of better quality?
 
pigs ear

Both my Hubby and Father in Law - take great pride in their handywork, I often hear them say 'well he made a right pigs ear of that' when they spy something done not quite right, as if rushed and not made the best job of it.
 
But a really good job is referred to as another part of a dog's anatomy, isn't it? :wink:
 
Pigs Ear

Another variation - you can't make a silk purse out of a pigs ear.

Meaning you can't make someone better than they are.
 
It was "sow's ear" in our house, but same diff, eh?

Think I mentioned somewhere else; Don't pick it or it'll turn into a pig's foot and you'll be as ugly as sin.

I'm perished; another expression on our family for being cold.

Some more Anglo -Saxon: Like s**t* from a wooden rocking horse; meaning rare in a silly way. Then there's; you're like 'oss muck, all over the place.
 
To say ''In a pigs ear, it is!'' meant 'not bloody likely!' Or, depending on context, it expressed irony/and/or disbelief. Where I now live, in Northumberland, I've often been told-off for using this expression as it is regarded as 'bad luck' to mention the word 'pig', especially so nearer the coast. They are refered to as 'guffies' or 'articles'. Which reminds me, back in the Black Country, my parents often affectinately called me a 'daft article' if I did somehing foolish...perhaps, on reflection, they were just calling me a stupid pig?!?!?!?
 
I can remember when having difficulty doing something my Mom would say 'your making a pigs ear of that'!!
 
I wonder why a pigs ear is used in a mostly derogatory tense. They serve pigs well enough as audio recievers. Could it be that they are one of the few parts of a pig thats almost inedible ? I would have thought that butchers would have ground them up and used them in sausage filling.
Mossy's use of the term for beer is a new one on me. Any idea of where it comes from?
An interesting and thought provoking thread from a simpe term. I may now go back to bed and rest my aching brain.
 
They sell them now dried for dogs to chew on. As you say not very edible!
 
'Pigs Ear' for Beer is simply rhyming slang isn't? Makes as much sense as 'Daisy Roots' for Boots.
 
Bernie thats exactly what i said it is slang whether or not ''it makes sense''just accept as rhyming slang

Mossy
 
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