Put Some Lipstick on That Pig!

Put Some Lipstick on That Pig!

By Allen Merritt (©2017)

Okay, here’s a saying that jumped up and slapped me in the face the other day.

“Put some lipstick on that pig!”

If you overheard that proverbial expression or if those words were ever spoken to you, wouldn’t it perk up your ears and peak your curiosity? Wouldn’t you want to know more of where the phrase came from? What does putting lipstick on a pig have to do with anything? Why would anyone want to do that? Pig and lipstick don’t seem to be compatible, so what does it mean?

To me, these are all good questions for the inquisitive mind.

As they say, curious and inquiring minds want to know.

What’s the mystery behind the lipstick-pig conundrum?

I think when most people think of pigs their mind goes straight to bacon or pork chops. For children it might be the story about the three little pigs or singing a song about their ‘piggies’ going to market while counting toes at bedtime.  As for me, I remember chasing greased up piglets at the town fair and one pig butchering, which probably explains why I am a vegetarian!

Now, Wikipedia has this to say about it, "lipstick on a pig" is a rhetorical expression, used to convey the message that making superficial or cosmetic changes is a futile attempt to disguise the true nature of a product."¹

Personally, I think the phrase directs us back to living life on a positive note.

Putting lipstick on a pig is an old phrase used to point us toward looking at life, circumstances, situations, obstacles, hurdles, hurts, pains, uncomfortables, unfortunates and the like from the other side of the fence. It opens our eyes to actually seeing ourselves adding a positive twist and/or altering perspective toward turning things around for the betterment of the whole. At the very least, it indicates things as they really are. 

Putting lipstick on a pig is like seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. What’s great about such a statement is that it provides great imagery to work with; a visual aide, if you will.

I can just see that pig with bright red lipstick smothered all over its snout. I can’t help but smile and chuckle at the thought of it. If anything, it breaks the tension and relieves stress.

Now, as a follow up to hearing this little diddy, I heard a character on a reality television show the other night make the statement, “Lipstick on a pig is still a pig.”

This may true in some instances. You cannot completely cover up reality, but you can make it look better, which is my point. Sometimes a touch up helps everything look and feel better. It takes away some of the sting or stickiness that goes hand in hand with negativity. It’s like spit shining your car or mopping the kitchen floor. It looks good for a little while and there is nothing like the feel of clean floors as you walk barefoot over it. However, it won't stay clean for long. Putting lipstick on a pig is representative of taking a small breather and looking at conditions from a different angle.

I think it’s important to note that spit shining or adding a touch of the figurative lipstick to a pig isn’t an absolute answer to anything, but it serves as a temporary measure to notice it from a different perspective.

Therefore, if you find yourself eye to eye with any negativity this week, keep this phrase in mind. It may inspire some new point of view or remedy. And if anything, it will be a comical image to conjure up as you chug along the path toward keeping life in a positive place.

I don’t think it matters what shade of lipstick you use if you want to paint the pig. Just smear on that waxy goo like you were finger painting a picture for mom! You might feel better in no time. If could take your mind off things for a bit. 

Here’s to the idea of putting lipstick on a pig and using it as a means to living this week on a positive note.

Cheers!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipstick_on_a_pig (Viewed 8/14/2017)¹