If Pigs Hardly Sweat, Why Do We Say “Sweat Like a Pig”?
Some porcine-related phrases make clear sense, such as “pigging out” or “happy as a pig in mud.” Pigs also have a reputation for excessive perspiration, given the popularity of the phrase “I’m sweating like a pig!” However, this seems to be just bad press. According to 4-H Agent Matthew Newman,
while swine do have some sweat glands, as all mammals do, they have relatively few for their size. As such, they have to roll in the mud or do another similar activity to cool their bodies on a hot day. So, where did “sweating like a pig” come from? The...
