You Can’t Sweat Like a Pig

Day Three of The 10-Day Shortform Challenge

Photo by Kenneth Schipper Vera on Unsplash

If pigs can’t sweat, why say “sweat like a pig”?

The phrase comes from the iron smelting process. Hot iron is poured on the sand and cools and solidifies. The pieces look like a sow and piglets. Hence “pig iron”.

When the iron cools, the surrounding air reaches its dew point, and beads of moisture form on the surface of the “pigs.”

So, sweating like a pig really means that the pig iron has cooled enough to be safely handled.

And no, that pig is not edible.

Fun fact

Pigs are born without sweat glands. When they do need to cool off, they enjoy a roll in a mud puddle.

Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles ❤ Did you smile today?

10-day shortform challenge: Day 1, Day 2.