whole hog

American  

[hohl hawg, hog] / ˈhoʊl ˈhɔg, ˈhɒg /

noun

1. the furthest extent; everything.

   With them it was whole hog or nothing.

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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.

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.

whole hog British  

noun

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

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whole hog More Idioms  

1. see go whole hog.

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Etymology

Origin of whole hog

An Americanism dating back to 1825–30

Example Sentences

With three young kids and soaring meat costs, Logan Wagoner decided it was time to go whole hog.

From Washington Post • Aug. 27, 2022

And, if you really want to go the whole hog, you can uninstall it.

From The Verge • Sep. 23, 2021

He turns out the kind of giant beef ribs and dark, jiggly briskets that help to define Central Texas barbecue, but he also serves whole hog barbecue on the weekends, and ages quail and duck.

From New York Times • Jul. 20, 2021

He would roast a whole hog for friends on weekends or make calico beans and pecan pies for enormous family gatherings.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2020

So far we’ve only purchased things from around the edges; we can’t get up the nerve to walk in there whole hog and do our shopping.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver