Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
in pig

in pig

9.9
A female pig that is pregnant and carrying piglets
  • idiom
  • UK
translation icon : preñada
  • The veterinary confirmed that the sow was in pig and due soon.

Examples

  • The farmer said the sow is in pig.

  • They bought a gilt already in pig from the local breeder.

  • It's important to provide extra nutrition for a sow in pig.

  • When a sow is in pig, it requires special care.

  • The farmer noticed that the sow was in pig and expected piglets soon.

  • She bred her best sow, hoping it would be in pig by next month.

  • The vet confirmed that the sow was in pig during the check-up.

Synonyms

pregnant
vsin pig
∞ 1.0

Having a baby or a young animal growing inside the belly

refers only to females of one specific animal species
hapu
vsin pig
  • New Zealand
9.9

Carrying a baby inside the body before birth

is used only for females of one particular animal species rather than humans

Surface Forms

in pig positive

Morphology

in + pig

The phrase combines the preposition 'in' (marking a state) with 'pig' used as a verb meaning 'to farrow', so the meaning 'pregnant' is partially derivable as 'in the state of being pigged'. However, this is a specialized, somewhat archaic livestock collocation (cf. 'in calf') rather than a productive, everyday compositional pattern, so an average B1 learner would only partially infer the meaning without exposure.

Etymology

The phrase in pig comes from farmers long ago: a sow was said to be in pig when she carried piglets inside her, so the phrase means 'pregnant'.