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pig in a poke

Something whose true value (usually less than expected) is concealed or unknown, especially something offered for sale.

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.
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Betty thought the flowers looked expensive, but her mother knew they were fake. When Betty asked if she could buy them, her mother replied, "That's just a pig in a poke. You don't want that"

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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Modified by TriplePurple on December 03, 2023

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to pig in a poke

squeal like a stuck pigslow pokemake a pig of oneselfpoke outfat as a pigpoke aboutput lipstick on a pigpoke outpoke someone's eye outmake a pig's ear ofsweat like a pigpig latinpoke alongpig fucker

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