He went astray. ذَهَبَ فِي السُّمَّهَى

Abu Omar said: That is, in falsehood. So-and-so went astray, if he went to a matter he did not know. His camels went astray, if theay scattered in every direction. As-Summah: the air between the sky and the earth. As-Sumhā and As-Samihī: falsehood and falsehood.
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his proverb, "He went astray," is used to describe someone who has gone astray, ventured into something they know nothing about, or wandered aimlessly. It is also said of someone whose efforts are scattered and lost without direction.
ome of the closest English equivalents are:
"He is chasing shadows."
Meaning: He is chasing shadows and illusions.
"He is wandering in the dark."
Meaning: He is stumbling around in the dark without knowledge or guidance.
"He is barking up the wrong tree."

Meaning: He is pursuing the wrong path.

"He is lost in a fog."

Meaning: He is lost and doesn't know where to go.

"He is talking nonsense."

Meaning: He is engaging in baseless and meaningless talk.

The closest expression to the meaning of the Arabic proverb, encompassing both misguidance and venturing into the unknown, is:

"He is wandering aimlessly in error."

Meaning: He is stumbling aimlessly in error without direction. Because poison also signifies falsehood, vanity, and empty air, it can also be contrasted with:

“He is chasing illusions.”

“He is chasing illusions.”This proverb, "He went astray," is used to describe someone who has gone astray, ventured into something they know nothing about, or wandered aimlessly. It is also said of someone whose efforts are scattered and lost without direction.

Some of the closest English equivalents are:

"He is chasing shadows."

Meaning: He is chasing shadows and illusions.

"He is wandering in the dark."

Meaning: He is stumbling around in the dark without knowledge or guidance.

"He is barking up the wrong tree."

Meaning: He is pursuing the wrong path.

"He is lost in a fog."

Meaning: He is lost and doesn't know where to go.
He is talking nonsense."
Meaning: He is engaging in baseless and meaningless talk.

The closest expression to the meaning of the Arabic proverb, encompassing both misguidance and venturing into the unknown, is:

"He is wandering aimlessly in error."

Meaning: He is stumbling aimlessly in error without direction. Because poison also signifies falsehood, vanity, and empty air, it can also be contrasted with:

“He is chasing illusions.”

“He is chasing illusions.”

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قال أبو عمر‏:‏ أي في الباطل، وجرى فلانٌ السُّمَّهى، إذا جرى إلى أمرٍ لا يعرفه، وذهبَتْ إبلُه السُّمَّهَى، إذا تفرقت في كل وجه، والسُّمَّهَى‏:‏ الهواء بين السماء والأرض والسمهى والسميهي‏:‏ الكذبُ والباطل‏.‏