The origin of the French expression 'joli à croquer' (pretty as a picture, cute as a button) is examined, arguing that M. Rat's and H. Balzac's (no bibliographical information provided) etymologies are complementary. The onomatopoeic source of 'croquer' (to crunch) and its relationship to the meaning "to sketch/draw" are discussed. It is argued that the meaning "envy of possessing through appropriation either physical (e.g., consumption) or symbolic (e.g., painting)" underlies both etymological proposals; Bulgarian and Russian parallels are produced. It is conjectured that the metaphor developed from "oral appropriation to aesthetic experience." (Z. Dubiel in LLBA 1999, vol. 33, n. 5)