Tuesday, June 9, 2026

A tear from a one-eyed person is a cool, precious gift. دَمْعَةٌ مِنْ عَوْرَاءَ غَنِيمَةٌ بارِدَةٌ.

Meaning, from a one-eyed person. This proverb is used to describe a miser from whom you receive very little.
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المثل العربي «دَمْعَةٌ مِنْ عَوْرَاءَ غَنِيمَةٌ بَارِدَةٌ» يضرب لمن عُرف بالبخل أو قلة العطاء، فإذا صدر منه شيء يسير عُدَّ مكسبًا غير متوقع.
ومن أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية في المعنى: Half a loaf is better than none.
«نصف رغيف خير من لا شيء.»
أي أن القليل خير من الحرمان التام.
Every little bit helps.
«كل قليل يفيد.»
أي أن العطاء اليسير له قيمته.
Something is better than nothing.
«شيء خير من لا شيء.»
وهو أقرب إلى معنى قبول القليل ممن لا يُنتظر منه الكثير.
وأقرب مقابل للمثل العربي هو:
Something is better than nothing.
«شيء خير من لا شيء.»
لأن المثل العربي يشير إلى أن القليل الصادر من بخيل أو ممن لا يُرتجى منه العطاء يُعد غنيمة.
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أي من عينٍ عَوْرَاء. يضرب للبخيل يصلُ إليك منه القليل.
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The Arabic proverb, "A tear from a stingy person is a cool windfall," is used to describe someone known for their miserliness or stinginess. Even a small gift from them is considered an unexpected gain.
Some English equivalents are:
"Half a loaf is better than none."
Meaning, a little is better than nothing.
"Every little bit helps."
Meaning, even a small gift has its value.
"Something is better than nothing."
This is closer to the meaning of accepting a little from someone from whom little is expected.
The closest equivalent to the Arabic proverb is:
"Something is better than nothing."
This is because the Arabic proverb suggests that even a small gift from a miser or someone from whom no generosity is expected is considered a windfall.

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مميزة

A tear from a one-eyed person is a cool, precious gift. دَمْعَةٌ مِنْ عَوْرَاءَ غَنِيمَةٌ بارِدَةٌ.

Meaning, from a one-eyed person. This proverb is used to describe a miser from whom you receive very little. -------------------------------...