IdiomAnimals
English
Englishbuy a pig in a poke
Meaning: To buy something without examining it first.
Example: “Buying a used car online without seeing it is buying a pig in a poke.”
Origin: A "poke" is a small sack. The warning dates from medieval markets, where a buyer might find a cheaper cat in the bag instead of a piglet. The saying is recorded in English from the 16th century, and similar sayings exist across Europe.
Equivalents in other languages
Swedish: att köpa grisen i säcken Literally: To buy the pig in the sack
German: Die Katze im Sack kaufen Literally: To buy the cat in the sack
Polish: kupować kota w worku Literally: To buy a cat in a sack
French: Acheter chat en poche Literally: To buy a cat in a bag
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