WordGarden.ioporkpie
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈɔːkpaɪ/
US
Meanings
Noun
a short-brimmed hat with a low flat crown
Beyond the definition
In British slang, "porkpie" means a lie or a made-up story. It comes from Cockney rhyming slang, where "pork pie" rhymes with "lie." People usually use it in a playful, informal way, often when a story sounds clearly untrue. For example, if someone says they met the Queen at the bus stop, you might laugh and say that sounds like a porkpie. You may also hear the more common form "porkies," as in "He's telling porkies."
In British slang, "porkpie" means a lie. It comes from Cockney rhyming slang, where "pork pie" stands for "lie." The form with a space, "pork pie," is more traditional, and many speakers are even more likely to say "porkies," as in "telling porkies." Even so, the meaning is the same: someone is saying something untrue.
The word is usually used in casual speech, often with humor or mild disbelief rather than deep seriousness. If a friend says they won a million pounds last weekend but cannot show any proof, you might say it sounds like a porkpie. It often suggests that the story is not just false, but also a bit silly, bold, or easy to doubt. That said, it can refer to any lie, from a small made-up excuse to a bigger false story.
Because it is informal and strongly British, it fits best in friendly conversation, comedy, stories, and dialogue. You would not normally use it in formal writing, legal language, or serious official speech. When this word appears, it usually adds a lively, local flavor and makes the accusation sound less harsh than simply calling someone a liar.
Examples
- 1
Hat style
He wore a porkpie hat with a dark suit and polished shoes.
- Phraseporkpie hat
a flat-topped hat with a narrow brim
- 2
Short form
The old photo shows my grandfather in a porkpie, standing beside his bicycle.
- 3
Stage clothing
The band’s singer came onstage in sunglasses and a black porkpie hat.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- porkpienoun