Od rzemyczka do koziczka
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What it means
“From a strap to a little goat.” A variant of the escalating-theft proverb where the stolen animal is a goat rather than a horse. The meaning is identical: 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 variant of the more common 'od rzemyczka do koniczka'. The swap of horse for goat reflects local agricultural contexts.
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