今天我们要讲的习惯用语里都有这样一个关键词汇：hog。美国人常用hog代替pig这个词来指猪。据说猪是最聪明的飞禽走兽之一，然而它们在人们心目中却形象欠佳，人们往往觉得hog肮脏，贪馋，而且坏脾性。比方说，你说某人是hog，那你就是在嘲笑他的吃相难看，或者长相粗俗，举止不雅。然而并不是所有带有hog这个词的短语都有负面的意思。
例如我们要学的第一个习惯用语的含义就是正面的：live high off the hog，这个习惯用语起源于美国南方。本意是上好的肉类食品（像火腿，排骨之类，都来自猪身的上半部分），引申为生活过得很宽裕。
例句-1：Green has never been able to hold a job more than six months. But he's been living high off the hog ever since his rich aunt died and left him all her money.
格林从没有过一份工作能做满六个月的。但是他那有钱的姑妈去世后把全部钱财都留给了格林，所以他日子过得还挺舒服。
例句-2：With the kids out of the nest, at long last they can live high off the hog. First they'll take a long tour around the world and then buy a house in Florida near the beach.
孩子们都离家独立后，他俩终于可以过上宽裕舒心的日子了。首先他们打算来个环球旅行，然后再在佛罗里达海滨买栋房子。
第二个带有hog这个词的习惯用语是go whole hog，意为“竭尽全力干到底”。关于这个习惯用语的出典众说不一。有一种讲法是很久前在爱尔兰俚语中hog是最大最重的钱币，就是大洋。在当时也算是一大笔钱了，而go whole hog就是把整块大洋一下子花完。
例句-3：Sure, it's expensive but I decided to go whole hog. We ate in the best places and saw the top Broadway Shows. Okay, I spent all my money but the family had a wonderful time!
那次度假花费很大，但是我决定干脆彻底地玩一次：我们在最豪华的饭馆吃饭，还看了一流的百老汇歌舞剧。我的确把钱都花了个精光，但是全家玩儿得可真痛快。
例句-4：Yes, I went whole hog and bought the big set. My wife was pretty upset when she saw the bill. So I had to take her out to a fancy restaurant for an evening of dining and dancing.
我真是不惜倾囊地买下了那台大电视机。我妻子看到帐单时很不高兴，所以我晚上不得不请她出去吃了顿大餐，跳了跳舞。
