whole hog

[ hohl hawg, hog ]

noun

1. the furthest extent; everything:

   With them it was whole hog or nothing.

adjective

1. Usually whole-hog []. complete and thorough; wholehearted:

   Any whole-hog endorsement of the doctrine would leave its proponent overexposed to counterarguments.

adverb

1. completely; wholeheartedly:

   I've long hated this idea that you can't just jump whole hog into radical feminism.

whole hog

noun

1. slang.
   the whole or total extent (esp in the phrase go the whole hog )

Word History and Origins

Origin of whole hog¹

An Americanism dating back to 1825–30

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go the whole hog, to do something to the fullest extent; proceed with or indulge in something completely and unreservedly: Also go whole hog.

   The townspeople went the whole hog for the celebration.

More idioms and phrases containing whole hog

see go whole hog .

Example Sentences

There are two other options, cuts of the whole hog, on the table.

From Voice of San Diego

The second is to go whole hog, declaring marriage a constitutional right for all couples, gay or straight, across America.

From The Daily Beast

Or you could go whole hog like Nub Sweeney and just wear overalls.

From The Daily Beast

Why did we buy into AIG and Citigroup when we could have actually bought Goldman whole-hog, for a cut-rate price?

From The Daily Beast

He devoured at one meal a whole hog; and after it, being accommodated with fruit, he ate three pecks of damsons.

From Project Gutenberg

Why not go the whole hog, and think it the only proper thing to do?

From Project Gutenberg

If they were to have Home Rule at all they must 'go the whole hog.'

From Project Gutenberg

He wants to be—eh—the whole hog, but—eh,—I reckon this is a—eh—free country, ain't it?

From Project Gutenberg

Thof I may be a bit up the spout, too, I don't deny; only I baint agoin' the whole hog all at once.

From Project Gutenberg