The phrase "whole hog" has two main meanings:
- As an idiom , "whole hog" means to do something completely or thoroughly, without holding back. For example, to "go the whole hog" means to commit fully to an action or decision, doing it as entirely as possible.
- In culinary terms , "whole hog" refers to cooking an entire pig , often by barbecuing or smoking the whole animal. This is a traditional regional style of barbecue where the entire hog is cooked whole, sometimes in specially built pits. Cooking a whole hog involves managing size, temperature, and timing carefully, and the resulting meat is typically shredded and served with sauces.
These two senses reflect both a metaphor for full commitment and a literal reference to preparing the entire pig.
