blind pig

A man enters a blind pig through a back alley door.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Illegal drinking establishment: "blind pig" is a slang term, primarily used in the United States, referring to a place where alcoholic beverages are sold illegally, especially during the Prohibition era (1920–1933). It is synonymous with "speakeasy" or "blind tiger."

Usage Examples

• (An illegal bar or establishment.)
• (A hidden, illegal drinking spot.)

Advanced Usage

• "to run a blind pig": to operate an illegal bar or speakeasy.

  • He was arrested for running a blind pig in his own home. (Operating an illegal drinking establishment.)

• "blind pig" as a historical term: often used in historical contexts to describe the underground drinking culture of the 1920s.

  • The novel vividly describes the atmosphere of a blind pig in Chicago. (A historical speakeasy.)

Variants and Related Words

• Blind tiger (n): an alternative term with exactly the same meaning as "blind pig," referring to an illegal bar.

  • The term "blind tiger" was more common in some regions of the United States. (A synonym for blind pig.)

• Speakeasy (n): a more widely recognized term for an illegal bar or club during Prohibition.

  • The speakeasy was hidden behind a fake storefront. (A similar establishment.)

Synonyms

• Speakeasy: an illicit bar or nightclub.
• Bootlegger: a person who sells illegal alcohol (not a place, but related).
• Illegal bar: a straightforward description of the establishment.

Related Idioms

• "Blind pig" (as idiom): sometimes used metaphorically to refer to any hidden or secretive operation.

  • The underground poker game was a blind pig of sorts. (A secret, illicit gathering.)

• "Blind pig" (origin): the name is thought to derive from a trick where patrons paid to see a "blind pig" (a pig with a patch over its eye) and were secretly served alcohol.

  • The term "blind pig" originated from a Prohibition-era ruse. (Historical etymology.)