Literal translation
to have coins like a dog has fleas
Meaning
to be extremely wealthy
Explanation
This expression compares a person's wealth to the number of fleas covering a dog, that is, to a quantity so large it cannot be counted. Sòu means a small coin and, by extension, money in general, while niero means flea. The image works by transfer: just as a flea-ridden dog carries a considerable number of them without any effort, the person described has money in abundance, almost without trying. The humor lies in the unexpected pairing of enviable wealth with an irritating vermin, giving the phrase a popular flavor, tinged with mockery. It is used to underline, with irony, someone's considerable fortune, sometimes tinged with envy or disapproval at such visible ease. The register stays thoroughly familiar and oral, typical of Provençal comparisons drawn from rural and animal life to describe social realities.