Dictionary

pig in a poke en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Reportedly from the practice of substituting a butchered cat, etc. for a suckling pig when sold in a sack at a market. Other theories circulate but all involve the purchase of a cat in a bag, where the buyer expected better. poke refers to a bag or sack, and is related to pouch.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) Something whose true value is concealed or unknown and may be lower than expected by the buyer or claimed by the seller, especially something offered for sale.

Forms

Relateds

let the cat out of the bag · I have a bridge to sell you · sell someone a pup · puss in a bag

Translations (20)

pl kot w worku (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · et siga kotis (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · de Katze im Sack (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · id kucing dalam karung (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · no katten i sekken (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · is kötturinn í sekknum (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · lv kaķis maisā (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · sq derr në thes (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · nl een kat in de zak kopen (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · cs zajíc v pytli (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · fr acheter chat en poche (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · fi sika säkissä (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · hu zsákbamacska (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · ja 衝動買い (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · es dar gato por liebre (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · pt nabos em saco (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · sv grisen i säcken (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · he חתול בשק (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · lv cūka maisā (something whose true value is concealed or unknown) · cy prynu cath mewn cwd (something whose true value is concealed or unknown)