Od rzemyczka do koziczka
Listen
What it means
“From a strap to a little goat.” This variant of the proverb uses a goat instead of a horse. It has the same meaning: small thefts lead to bigger ones.
English equivalent
He that will steal an egg will steal an ox.
Vocabulary
- rzemyczek — small strap, thong (diminutive of rzemień)
- koziczek — little goat (diminutive of kozioł/koza)
Grammar note
Genitive case after 'od' and 'do'. The diminutive '-czka' ending on 'koziczka' maintains the rhyme and sing-song quality of the proverb family.
Cultural context
A regional or alternative form of the more common 'od rzemyczka do koniczka'. Using a goat instead of a horse may reflect local farming life.
Beginner
Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!
More Polish proverbs
- "A stepmother, even if made of sugar, is always bitter." However kind she may be, a stepmother may …
- "For a wise head, two words are enough." A clever person needs only a short hint to understand. Long …
- "A Pole is wise after the damage is done." Poles, or people in general, often learn from mistakes …
- "The wise will accept advice; the fool will reject it with scorn." Wise people listen to advice, …