# make pigs and whistles of

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/make-pigs-and-whistles-of
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To ruin (something); to make a severe mess of (something).

## Examples

- He made pigs and whistles of the kitchen while cooking dinner.
- The new manager made pigs and whistles of the project by ignoring the team's advice and changing the schedule.
- Despite his extensive experience, the architect made pigs and whistles of the structural design, leading to significant delays and budget overruns.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.