The idiom "a guinea pig" is used to refer to a person who is used as a test subject in an experiment or a trial. It is often used when someone is trying out a new product or a new idea, and they need someone to test it out to see if it works or if it's safe.
The term "guinea pig" comes from the fact that guinea pigs were often used in scientific experiments because they are small, easy to handle, and reproduce quickly. This term has now been extended to refer to people who are used as test subjects.
For example, if a company is developing a new drug, they might use a group of people as guinea pigs to test the drug's effectiveness and safety. Similarly, if a new teaching method is being introduced, a group of students might be used as guinea pigs to see if the method works.
In everyday conversation, the term "guinea pig" can also be used more loosely to refer to someone who is trying something new or taking a risk. For example, if someone is trying a new hairstyle or a new hobby, they might jokingly refer to themselves as a guinea pig.
Overall, the idiom "a guinea pig" is used to refer to someone who is used as a test subject, either in a scientific experiment or in a more informal setting.
• I have never had a pet before, but I think a guinea pig would be a good first pet.
• The professor used a guinea pig as an example in her lecture on genetics and animal breeding.
• My little sister loves playing with her guinea pig, she treats it like a baby.
• We needed a guinea pig to test the safety of the new medicine, so we used a small animal model in our laboratory.
• As a professional breeder, I carefully select the guinea pigs that will be used for breeding to ensure the best genetic traits are passed on.
• The new product is still in the testing phase, so we need a few guinea pigs to try it out before we launch it to the public.