as useless as tits on a boar hog
- idiom
- Offensive
- Golly, the whole left side of his body is as useless as tits on a boar hog.
Examples
-
Trying to fix this old computer is as useless as tits on a boar hog.
-
He realized that arguing with her was as useless as tits on a boar hog.
-
The instructions for this assembly were as useless as tits on a boar hog.
Synonyms
548
5.6
Bad or worthless and often causing trouble
481
1.0
Not able to do the job it is made for
273
3.0
Has no value or use
204
5.1
Having no meaning, value, or purpose
188
2.5
An action that will not help
161
3.5
Not doing anything useful
75
6.0
Not likely to work or help
19
6.8
Not useful or worth much
4
3.6
Not worth anything or useful
4
5.3
Not done for any clear reason or useful result
1
9.9
Not useful and having little value
1
5.2
Not able to do what is needed
1
8.2
Not useful for everyday tasks
Not helpful and not wanted in any situation
Completely useless in real situations
Completely without help for any task
Antonyms
How Useful
Surface Forms
Morphology
as + useless + as + tit + on + a + boar + hog
The simile pattern 'as X as Y' and the word 'useless' make the overall intent clear, and a literal reading (breasts on a male pig would serve no function) links the parts to the idiomatic meaning. However, understanding that 'tits on a boar hog' would be functionally pointless requires specific world knowledge (male pigs do not nurse) and familiarity with this regional/vulgar image, so a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words may not reliably derive the meaning.
Etymology
The saying as useless as tits on a boar hog likely comes from the image of a male pig called a boar hog that does not feed its young, so its tits would be pointless. So the phrase means 'completely useless'.