Noun
/pəˈti lɑrˈsəni/
Petit larceny refers to the theft of items of relatively low value. It is considered a minor crime, often distinguished from grand larceny, which involves the theft of higher-value goods. The term is derived from legal contexts and is commonly utilized in discussions surrounding criminal law.
The term is relatively specific and is used more frequently in written contexts, such as legal documents, news articles, and academic discussions about crime and legal issues, rather than in everyday oral conversation.
"He was charged with petit larceny for stealing a pack of gum."
(Él fue acusado de hurto menor por robar un paquete de chicles.)
"The judge sentenced her to community service for her petit larceny conviction."
(El juez la sentenció a servicio comunitario por su condena de hurto menor.)
"In many states, petit larceny is classified as a misdemeanor."
(En muchos estados, el hurto menor se clasifica como un delito menor.)
While specific idiomatic expressions containing "petit larceny" may be rare, it can be part of broader discussions regarding theft, crime, and minor offenses in a legal context. Here are some relevant idiomatic expressions related to theft and minor crimes:
"Caught red-handed"
This phrase refers to being caught in the act of committing a crime.
"The thief was caught red-handed trying to commit petit larceny."
(El ladrón fue atrapado en el acto tratando de cometer hurto menor.)
"A slap on the wrist"
This idiom means a mild punishment, typically indicating that a minor crime was not severely penalized.
"For his petit larceny, he received only a slap on the wrist."
(Por su hurto menor, solo recibió un pequeño castigo.)
"Playing with fire"
This expression means engaging in risky behavior that could lead to trouble.
"He was playing with fire by committing petit larceny so often."
(Estaba jugando con fuego al cometer hurto menor tan a menudo.)
The term "petit larceny" comes from the French phrase "petit," meaning "small," and "larceny," derived from the Latin "larcinarius," which means "thief." The legal distinction between petit and grand larceny was developed to categorize thefts based on the value of the stolen goods.