qui vole un œuf vole un bœuf

French

Alternative forms

• qui vole un œuf, vole un bœuf

Etymology

Literally, “(he) who steals an egg, steals a cow”. Compare English in for a penny, in for a pound, English one may as well hang for a sheep as a lamb.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ki vɔ.l‿œ̃.n‿œf vɔ.l‿œ̃ bœf/

• Audio

  (file)

Proverb

qui vole un œuf vole un bœuf

1. once a thief, always a thief (someone dishonest enough to steal a small thing can steal a big thing as well)

See also

• il n’y a pas de petits profits