Don’t Buy a Pig in a Poke
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "Don’t buy a pig in a poke" means don’t buy something without seeing or checking it first. It’s a country proverb warning folks not to get tricked.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Animals #Southern #FarmTalk #Proverbs
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard 'don’t buy a pig in a poke, all my life, it's a common one. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard 'don’t buy a pig in a poke, all my life, it's a common one. Pronunciation
[DOANT bye uh PIG in uh POHK]
Meaning & Usage
- Don’t purchase blindly (proverb)
Mae:
They’re selling it online but won’t send pictures.
They’re selling it online but won’t send pictures.
Earl:
Don’t buy a pig in a poke, honey - you’ll regret it.
Don’t buy a pig in a poke, honey - you’ll regret it.- Beware of hidden defects (figurative)
Mae:
That car’s cheap but looks shady.
That car’s cheap but looks shady.
Earl:
Yep. Don’t buy a pig in a poke.
Yep. Don’t buy a pig in a poke.variations: never buy a pig in a poke
★ This proverb draws from the old market trick of selling a "pig in a poke" (bag) but delivering something else inside. It’s still a perfect warning about online shopping or sight-unseen deals today. ★
Origin and Etymology
From medieval England, where a "poke" meant a bag. Unscrupulous sellers would substitute a cat or other small animal instead of a pig. Brought to the American South and Appalachia with settlers and firmly planted in rural speech as a proverb.
Usage Notes
Still widely used in the South and Appalachia as a cautionary saying. Recognized elsewhere, but its farm-market image gives it a distinctly old-time rural feel.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "don’t buy a pig in a poke." The "poke" means a sack or bag.
Kin Topics
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 10). Don’t Buy a Pig in a Poke. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/dont-buy-a-pig-in-a-poke
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Don’t Buy a Pig in a Poke." HillbillySlang.com, 10 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/dont-buy-a-pig-in-a-poke.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Don’t Buy a Pig in a Poke." HillbillySlang.com. September 10, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/dont-buy-a-pig-in-a-poke.
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