pig in a poke

American  

noun

1. something not adequately appraised or of undetermined value, as an offering or purchase.

---

pig in a poke Idioms  

1. An object offered in a manner that conceals its true value, especially its lack of value. For example, Eric believes that buying a used car is buying a pig in a poke. This expression alludes to the practice of substituting a worthless object, such as a cat, for the costly suckling pig a customer has bought and wrapping it in a poke, or sack. It dates from a time when buyers of groceries relied on a weekly farmers' market and, unless they were cautious enough to check the poke's contents, would not discover the skullduggery until they got home. The word poke dates from the 13th century but is now used mainly in the southern United States. The idiom was first recorded in John Heywood's 1562 collection of proverbs. Also see let the cat out of the bag.

---

Etymology

Origin of pig in a poke

First recorded in 1520–30

Example Sentences

One swallow doesn’t wallow in mud till a pig in a poke takes flight.

From The New Yorker • Sep. 2, 2019

True of any frontier project, any  procedure undertaken on these wells is literally a pig in a poke  wherein you aren’t quite sure of the result in advance.

From Forbes • Oct. 28, 2013

"You're not just asking us to buy a pig in a poke, you're just asking us to buy a poke - because there's not much pig in it at the moment," he said.

From The Guardian • Nov. 21, 2012

Investors, who bought what regulators are essentially calling a pig in a poke, lost the same amount.

From New York Times • Apr. 17, 2010

I think you was awful foolish, Gib, buyin' a pig in a poke that way.

From Captain Scraggs or, The Green-Pea Pirates by Grant, Gordon