phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

In a pig's eye

Posted by ESC on February 08, 2009 at 13:04

In Reply to: In a pig's eye posted by David Hill on February 08, 2009 at 13:03:

: What are the origins of "in a pig's eye"?

IN A PIG'S EYE - "Never, highly unlikely. Whether the originator of the saying meant that a poor idea was something to put in a pig's eye or that it would look bad to a pig's eye is a matter of speculation. As an expression of scorn the expression was picked up in 1872 by Petroleum V. Nasby (David Locke) in one of his satirical newspaper columns: 'A poetical cotashun.which.wuz, -- 'Kum wun, kim all, this rock shel fly From its firm base - in a pig's eye.'" From The Dictionary of Cliches by James Rogers (Ballantine Books, New York, 1985).

For more discussion, search the archives under "pig's."

© 1997 – 2024 Phrases.org.uk. All rights reserved.