Learning French: tout est bon dans le cochon and other pig expressions
An informal rhyme for when something is saved from going to waste
It is similar to the English expression: waste not, want not
inna Sochinska / Shutterstock
Pigs are often the butt of idiomatic jokes, portrayed as being ugly, greedy or lazy.
Tout est bon dans le cochon, however, paints a more optimistic picture of these pink farmyard animals, implying that everything can be put to good use.
We look at its origins and offer even more examples of pig-related idioms to slide into your casual French conversations.
Read also: Oh la vache ! 17 French animal expressions to try
What does tout est bon dans le cochon mean?
This informal idiom literally translates as: everything is good in the pig.
An extended variation is:
There are a couple of different meanings behind this expression.
It can be used to describe a ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ mindset, especially when cooking, to suggest that everything can be used and no scraps or ingredients need to get thrown out.
It can also describe an optimistic business outlook, considering that anything can be a source of profit.
Similar English phrases include:
Waste not, want not
Everything has its use
Nothing goes to waste
What are the origins of tout est bon dans le cochon?
French journalist and comedian Alphonse Allais reportedly wrote “Dans le cochon, tout est bon, même l'intérieur,” (In the pig, all is good, even the insides) in a collection of short stories published in 1892.
There is actually some truth behind this fun rhyming phrase.
Veterinary doctor Anne Hemonic explains that humans are able to consume 83% of a pig’s weight and 87% of its proteins. For comparison, only 62% of a chicken’s weight and 40% of a lamb can be eaten by humans.
From cheeks and ribs to feet and ears - very little goes to waste when it comes to pigs. This also encourages a wide variety of recipes and dishes to be made, featuring the likes of sausages, pork chops, bacon, or black pudding.
Read also: Understanding 'se jeter dans la gueule du loup': Exploring the depths of French expressions
When do you say tout est bon dans le cochon?
This rhyming expression is quite flexible and can be added to any general statement implying that everything is good or going well.
This idiom might also appear when something is saved from going to waste.
It is often heard as a standalone statement or response to a question:
Question: Tu veux que j'épluche les pommes de terre ? - Would you like me to peel the potatoes?
Response: Tout est bon dans le cochon ! Mets-les directement au four. - Everything can be used! Put them directly in the oven.
To whom do you say tout est bon dans le cochon?
It is informal language and should only really be used with friends and family.
It is mainly said in spoken French and will rarely be seen written down, except in casual message exchanges or as a punny headline.
Other cochon phrases?
Avoir un caractère de cochon - To be bad-tempered
Manger comme un cochon - To eat like a pig
Quel temps de cochon ! - What filthy weather!
Une cochonnerie - A mess
Un travail de cochon - A botched job
Être copains comme cochons - To be as thick as thieves
Read also: Try swapping syllables in French words to sound like a native
