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Animals
Informal
Summary
A bluntly French way to say "to eat messily" — literally about eating like a pig! This expression focuses on table manners rather than quantity and is perfect for intermediate learners who want to comment on someone's eating style naturally.
Manger comme un cochon
Extract / Intro Description
If you hear someone in France saying someone "eats like a pig," don't assume they're talking about portion sizes — they're commenting on messy table manners. This popular expression perfectly captures that moment when someone spills food everywhere, showing how French can be refreshingly direct about bad eating habits.
Difficulty & Formality
20% – Beginner
40% – Casual, quite informal
Family meals, commenting on table manners
Meaning
Literal translation:
To eat like a pig
Real meaning:
To eat messily / to eat without proper table manners
This expression describes someone who spills food, gets stains everywhere, and eats without any regard for cleanliness — focusing on the manner of eating, not the amount.
Example
Regarde ton tee-shirt, tu as mis de la sauce partout ! Tu manges comme un cochon !
Look at your shirt, you got sauce all over! You eat like a pig!
Origin / Fun Fact
This expression draws from the universal image of pigs eating — rolling around in mud, getting food everywhere, with no concern for cleanliness. Unlike English where "eating like a pig" often implies eating large quantities, French focuses specifically on the messy, unmannered aspect. It's the French way of calling out bad table etiquette with farmyard imagery!
Variations Based on Formality
Phrase
Meaning
Formality Level
Tu manges comme un porc
You eat like a pig
Tu manges comme un cochon
You eat like a pig
Tu ne sais pas manger !
You don't know how to eat!
Your Turn
Do you know someone who "mange comme un cochon" in your family? Or maybe you're guilty of messy eating when nobody's watching?
Share your messy eating stories in the comments below — we've all been there!
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About Alexis
Alexis is the creator behind the popular Instagram accounts @french.expressions and @expresiones.francesas, where thousands of language learners discover French idioms through engaging visual content.
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