A bad son from a noble family. أصوص عليها صوص

 "Asus 'alayha asus" (أصوص عليه صوص). "Al-asus" (الأصوص) refers to a fat, barren she-camel, and "as-suus" (الصوص) means a mean, ignoble person. The poet said: "I found you to be like thieves when darkness falls, and cowards at the first light of dawn."

This proverb is used to describe a noble lineage from which a mean offspring emerges. The singular and plural forms of "asus" are the same.

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The Arabic proverb "أصوص عليها صوص" (a small bird with a small tuft) is used when someone of noble and generous lineage produces a mean or despicable offspring; meaning that good lineage does not guarantee good character.

A similar English equivalent is:

"A rotten apple from a good tree."

Or:

"A bad son from a noble family."

Another English proverb with a similar meaning is:

"A black sheep of the family."

This is said of someone who deviates from the norm in their behavior compared to good family members.

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 الأصوص، الناقة الحائل السمينة، والصوص، اللئيم. قال الشاعر:

فألفيتكم صوصاً لصوصاً... إذا دجا الظلام وهيابين عند البوارق.

يضرب، للأصل الكريم، يظهر منه فرع لئيم، ويستوي في الصوص الواحد والجمع.