copains comme cochons

Literally, “friends like pigs”. The expression cochon in this expression is possibly not linked to the actual animal, as it is the basis of many negative expressions in French, and not normally considered a social animal. It has been proposed that older words like soçon (“friend”) (or a variation such as the 19th century Parisian chochon) or cosson (“merchant”) might have been altered into a more common word when they fell out of use.

• IPA^(key): /kɔ.pɛ̃ kɔm kɔ.ʃɔ̃/

copains comme cochons (plural only)

1. (simile) thick as thieves

• Also used in the singular, though less commonly: see copain comme cochon.

• comme larrons en foire
• comme cul et chemise