The tail of the dog never stays straight
- Meaning: one never changes
Time never gets tired of Running -Amad (The great Egyptian poet)
A goose’s child is a swimmer
- Meaning: Like father, like son.
A monkey is a gazelle in its mother’s eyes.
- Meaning: People are not objective when it comes to themselves and their family.
An absent person has his excuse.
- Meaning: Don’t blame someone for not being here until you hear him/her out.
Bathe her and then look at her.
- Meaning: Look at a girl without makeup and hairdo to see if she’s really pretty.
Be patient with a bad neighbor. Maybe he’ll leave or a disaster will take him out.
- Meaning: Take your time before getting into fights you can avoid.
Borrowing is bad, and paying back is always a loss.
Cover your candle, it will light more.
- Meaning: Be cautious! Don’t brag about what you have.
Dress up a stick and it’ll be a beautiful bride.
- Meaning: Don’t be fooled by women’s appearances; look deeper.
He who couldn’t overcome the donkey took on the saddle.
- Meaning: Said of people who don’t face their match and pick on the weak instead.
He whose house is made out of glass, shouldn’t throw stones at people.
- Meaning: Think of the repercussions before taking actions; you may be more liable to get harmed.
If your friend is (like) honey, don’t lick it all.
- Meaning: Don’t abuse people’s generosity towards you.
If you marry a monkey for his wealth, the money goes and the monkey remains as is.
- Meaning: Don’t get married to people for their money; it won’t bring you happiness.
Knowledge is in the head, not the copybook.
- Meaning: Thinking is more important than just getting knowledge from books.
News that’s for money today will be for free tomorrow.
Stretch your legs as far as your quilt goes.
- Meaning: Don’t do what’s beyond your capabilities. Don’t buy what you cannot afford.
This cub is from that lion.
- Meaning: Like father, like son.
Those who had some shame are dead.
- Meaning: People don’t have boundaries anymore.
(actually there’s a story behind this proverb; it’s a very old one from the Ottoman era, when Cairo had a lot of turkish baths – especially in the local areas. There was once a very big fire in one of the famous turkish baths during the women’s time of the day; the women who ran out without clothes survived, but those too ashamed to run away naked .. died in there)–10:05, 3 Mar 2024 (UTC)
What comes easily is lost easily. Meaning: Obvious
When I hear you, I believe you. When I see what you do, I’m surprised. Meaning: You speak reason yet you do weird stuff that contradicts it.
When the Angels arrive, the devils leave. Meaning: Said when people leave upon others’ arrival.
The man who marries my mother, I call him uncle. Meaning: If you can’t beat them, join them.
I curse my son and I hate who says amen. Meaning: That parents may be tough to their children but that they love them.
Give saturday, you will find sunday Meaning: That when you have a good history of doing good things, it will come back to you. Kind of What goes around comes around.
People died and came back to life preparing for Yehia’s Wedding. Meaning: Often said when people spend a great deal of time preparing for a normal or usual event.
Give me a fish, i have the day’s food. Teach me how to fish and i will have everyday’s food. Meaning: Instead of giving me things for granted, teach me a useful skill.
The man a bald woman got will be easily seduced by a woman with beautiful hair. Meaning: What an incompetent person can achieve can be easily achieved by a more competent one.
O! sister, you believe in a man’s honesty; it’s like you are believing in water in a sieve. Meaning : Women cannot trust men.
He kills the victim and walks in his funeral. Meaning : Used to describe a person who is very deceitful yet openly claims innocence.
Lying has no legs. Meaning : Eventually a liar will be exposed.