=============================================================================== This file contains a list of popular Egyptian proverbs compiled by Azer Bestavros from contributions posted on Egypt-net Digest To contribute, please post your contributions on Egypt-net Digest or send them directly to . Comments, corrections, etc. are welcome.
===============================================================================<'Elle 3ala rasoh batha ye-hasses 3aleha>Literal translation: A person with a wound on his head keeps touching it..Hidden meaning: A person is likely to point to his/her own weaknesses..Applicability: When somebody's acts expose what he/she is trying to hide.
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<3ala>Literal translation: Stretch your legs as far as your quilt (blanket) goes..Hidden meaning: Do not do what you cannot afford..Applicability: When extravagancy is unaffordable.
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<'Elle fat kadimoh tah>Literal translation: Lost is the person who forgets his/her past.Hidden meaning: Remember what you were before bragging about what you became..Applicability: Criticizing those who want to be disassociated from their roots
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Literal translation: Dress-up a stick and you get a doll.Hidden meaning: Make up (cosmetics) can make the ugly quite pretty.Applicability: Don't be fooled by appearances..
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Literal translation: The unlucky finds bones in his/her "fatta" (kind of food)Hidden meaning: A person with a little luck can expect anything happeing to him. Unluckiness sticks!Applicability: Complain about one's unluckiness
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Literal translation: The unlucky finds bones in his/her tripe dinner!Hidden meaning: A person with a little luck can expect anything happeing to him. Unluckiness sticks!Applicability: Complain about one's unluckiness
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<'En kan habibak 3asal ma-telhasoush kolloh>Literal translation: If your friend is like honey, then don't lick all of it!Hidden meaning: Do not take advantage of the sweetness of a dear friend!Applicability: Criticizing a person who abuses the generosity of a friend.
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Literal transalation: They couldn't beat the donkey so they beat the saddle!Hidden meaning: Be fair. Blame the source of the problem. Applicability: Inability to see the real problem and the real evil.
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Literal translation: They found no wrong with roses, so they said it is red!Hidden meaning: People will disagree with you no matter how perfect you are.Applicability: When people criticize just for the sake of criticizing.-
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Literal translation: If you have to drag a dog to the hunt, neither he nor his hunting is any good. Hidden meaning: Someone who does unwillingly what he is supposed to do as a matter of course will never do it well Applicability: criticizing someone who has to be forced to do what he's supposed to do.
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Translation: The skilful spinster spins with the leg of a donkeyHidden meaning: A skilful worker can do good work even with inadequate toolsApplicability: Criticizing lazy/incompetent workers who blame their tools for the poor job they do.
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Translation: We invited the bald man to keep us company; he uncovered his baldness and scared us. Hidden meaning: Criticizing those who act in a manner opposite to what had been expected.Applicability: When someone behaves in such a way as to provoke a negative reaction where a positive one had been expected.
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Literal translation: You who is building in someone else`s property, you who is raising someone else's kids. Hidden meaning: Do your actions where it should be done.Applicability: Criticizing those who do the correct things to the incorrect people.
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Literal translation: When the sad woman started to be happy, she could not find a place for her. Hidden meaning: Sad people will always be sad.Applicability: Complain about being sad
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Literal translation: When your son grows up, treat him as a brother.Hidden meaning: Do not continue trating your kids as children.Applicability: When someone treats his mature son as a kid.
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Literal translation: The earings are given to those without ears.Hidden meaning: Some people get things while they are not qualified for them.Applicability: When someone get something that s/he cann't use
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Literal translation: That who insulted you is that who told you about the insult. Hidden meaning: Do not listen to people telling you about others insulting you.Applicability: When someone tells another how he was insulted by a third one.
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Literal translation: The camel went through labor only to give birth to a mouseHidden meaning: Looks are deceivingApplicability: To express disappointment when something big is expected but never materializes.
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Literal translation: Like the dog of the tobacco salesman, one-eyed, and a nicotine addict.Meaning: He is no good, and by hanging around the wrong company, he got worse.Usage: To criticize the follower of a charlatan.
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no'ollohom>Literal translation: We tell them it is a bull, they say milk itMeaning: They are trying to get more than they can.Usage: To criticize those who insist on getting what is not available for giving.
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