Do you want to express that someone has done enough in a particular situation? Maybe you want to express that you are satisfied with your pet’s performance. If so, That’ll do pig may work for you.
There are multiple “slang” phrases used to this day that have a background in popular children’s movies. The phrase “that’ll do, pig” is one of them. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of the expression.
Meaning
“That’ll do, pig” is a way of saying “good job” or “nice work”. It is a stoic way of telling someone they have done well without getting too emotional about it. It lets the person know of their achievements in a way that still allows them to keep their modesty and not let their head get too big from the success.
Because of its origin, this is a phrase that younger and older adults alike will recognize. But its use as a meme on the Internet is due to younger adults and teenagers referencing the line on various social media sites. More information can be found in the video (here).
Example Usage
“Nice job getting an A on the final. That’ll do, pig.”
“You did very well on the job I gave you. That’ll do, pig.”
“That’ll do, pig. You have done the best you can chasing those mice down.”
“I saw that you just got hired at the new bakery across the street. That’ll do, pig.”
Origin
Babe is a well-known children’s film that was released August 4th, 1995 by Universal Pictures. It is an adaptation of author Dick King-Smith’s 1983 novel The Sheep-Pig. The film follows a pig who was raised by a sheepdog and learns to herd sheep with the assistance of Farmer Hoggett (played by James Cromwell). Toward the end of the film, after the pig wins a sheep herding competition at the state fair, Hoggett tells the pig, “that’ll do, pig. That’ll do”.
The phrase has been featured in other films in more recent years. Shrek, in the 2001 film Shrek, says “that’ll do, Donkey. That’ll do” to his companion, which is a reference to its predecessor. Popular television show Gilmore Girls has an episode titled “That’ll Do, Pig” in season three of the seven season runtime. A character in the animated show Johnny Bravo also says “that’ll do, pig” in the 1999 episodes “Man with the Golden Gut”, “Welcome Back, Bravo”, and “Aunt Katie’s Farm”. In an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer one of the characters of the show says “that’ll do, pig” when trying to get a piglet out of their basement.
The phrase can be found on a large variety of merchandise, including shirts and mugs, on online retail websites like Amazon.
Phrases Similar to That’ll Do, Pig
- Good job
- Well done
- Nice work
- Good enough
Phrases Opposite to That’ll Do, Pig
- Terrible/awful/etc.
- No good
- Do better
- Not good enough
What is the Correct Saying?
- “That’ll do, pig” is, itself, the correct saying.
Ways People May Incorrectly Say That’ll Do, Pig
This phrase is a way of humbly telling someone that they did a good job with something. Using this phrase when someone did not do well would be the incorrect way to use it. Some ways “that’ll do, pig” is used incorrectly are:
- You lost your job today? That’ll do, pig.
- I can’t believe you wrecked your car earlier. That’ll do, pig.
- You lost your wedding ring? That’ll do, pig.
- I heard you cheated on your girlfriend, Nate. That’ll do, pig.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase That’ll Do, Pig
- Nice work getting that book of yours published. That’ll do, pig.
- Congratulations on signing with a record label! That’ll do, pig.
- Poor little pup, he tried to tug that big stick but just couldn’t manage, That’ll do, pig.
- I saw that you got the car waxed. That’ll do, pig.
- Good job getting the kids to school on time today. That’ll do, pig.