Go Whole Hog

Go whole hog means to commit fully or go all the way with something, without holding back. It’s a colorful way of saying you’re giving it everything you’ve got.

#Southernish

synonyms: go all in, go for broke, give it everything, full throttle, all out

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I can remember when Dollywood would 'go whole hog' when I was a kid - mashed taters, biscuits, and pie too.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I can remember when Dollywood would 'go whole hog' when I was a kid - mashed taters, biscuits, and pie too.

Pronunciation

[GO HOLE HAWG]
/ɡoʊ hoʊl hɔːɡ/

Meaning & Usage

- To do something completely, with full effort or enthusiasm

Earl:

You really built a whole barn just for that one cow?

Sue:

Sure did - I went whole hog.

variations: go the whole hog, went whole hog, goin’ whole hog

Origin

The phrase started in **England in the early 1800s**, likely inspired by debates about eating pork and the expression "go the whole animal." It was popularized in **America during the 1828 presidential election**, when supporters of **Andrew Jackson** were called "whole-hog men" - meaning they backed him entirely.

The vivid image of taking the "whole hog" instead of part of it fit perfectly with frontier and Southern speech, and it stuck as a way to describe doing something with total commitment.

Verdict: Southernish. Widely used in Southern and country talk, but originally an English and early American political expression.

Notes

Used proudly or humorously to describe total effort, enthusiasm, or indulgence.
Can apply to work, food, politics, or projects - anything done to the max.
Pairs naturally with other food idioms like "high on the hog" or "puttin’ on the dog."
Still common in both rural and mainstream American English today.

Common Questions

What does "go whole hog" mean?

To do something completely or enthusiastically - no halfway measures.

Is it Southern?

It sounds Southern but began in early 19th-century England and became popular nationwide.

Why "hog"?

It likely comes from farm talk or early slang about taking the whole animal, not just a part.

Is it still used today?

Yes - often humorously to describe someone going all-out.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 3). Go Whole Hog. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/go-whole-hog
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Go Whole Hog." HillbillySlang.com, 3 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/go-whole-hog.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Go Whole Hog." HillbillySlang.com. November 3, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/go-whole-hog.

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