Idiom meaning, usage examples, facts

1. His life is full of fast cars, holidays, and wanting for nothing—he's high on the hog.
2. They're living high on the hog now, but it won't last forever.

This idiom crept into the English language during the early 20th century. A variety of newspaper articles at that time made mention of the high cost of living and compared large corporate entities with the hog. The phrase may come from the best cuts of a pig which are located on the back and upper leg. The wealthy ate cuts from “high on the hog”, while the paupers ate pork belly and feet.