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Etymology Journal · H

Happier than a pig in slop

Meaning

Expressing a state of absolute, unadulterated joy or comfort. It usually describes someone who is currently in their element or completely enjoying a situation that others might find messy or trivial.

Warm, folksy, joyous

Used in a sentence

  • He was happier than a pig in slop eating that barbecue sandwich.
  • Once she started painting, she was happier than a pig in slop.
  • She sat by the fire, happier than a pig in slop.

The backstory

Pigs are known to revel in slop and mud, as it keeps them cool and comfortable. This folksy comparison suggests that when a person finds their happy place, they are as content as a farm animal in a trough.

Heard in

The South

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