She withheld her milk like a leech دَرْدَبَهُ دَرْدَبَةَ العَلُوقِ.

دَرْدَبَهُ دَرْدَبَةَ العَلُوقِ.
وهي التي تمنع ولَدَها رَضَاعَهَا، ودَرْدَبَتُها: عَطْفُها ورَأْمها.
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She withheld her milk like a leech.
This refers to a mother who refuses to nurse her young, and her withholding is her affection and tenderness.
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المثل العربي «دَرْدَبَهُ دَرْدَبَةَ العَلُوقِ» يُضرب لمن يُظهر المودة والعطف بالكلام أو المظاهر، لكنه يمنع النفع الحقيقي أو يبخل بما يُنتظر منه، كالنَّاقة العَلوق التي ترأم ولدها وتعطف عليه ثم تمنعه الرضاع.
ومن أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية:
Fine words butter no parsnips.
(الكلام الجميل لا يحقق شيئًا.)
أو:
Actions speak louder than words.
(الأفعال أبلغ من الأقوال.)
وإذا أريد إبراز التناقض بين المودة الظاهرة والبخل بالفعل:
All talk and no action.
(كلام كثير بلا فعل.)
أو:
He pats you with one hand and withholds with the other.
(يُلاطفك بيد ويمنعك بالأخرى.) — تعبير معنوي.
وأقرب مثل إنجليزي شائع من حيث المعنى هو:
Actions speak louder than words.
لأن المثل العربي يذم من يُظهر العطف والود، لكنه يحجب المنفعة الحقيقية.
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The Arabic proverb “He patted him like a leech” is used to describe someone who shows affection and kindness through words or appearances, but withholds genuine help or is stingy with what is expected of them, like a camel that shows affection and tenderness to its calf but then refuses to nurse it.
Some of the closest English equivalents are:
Fine words, butter, no parsnips.
(Sweet talk accomplishes nothing.)
Or:
Actions speak louder than words.
(Actions speak louder than words.)
To highlight the contradiction between outward affection and actual stinginess:
All talk and no action.
(Much talk, no action.)
Or:
He pats you with one hand and withholds with the other.
(He flatters you with one hand and withholds from you with the other.) — a metaphorical expression.
The closest common English proverb in meaning is:
(Actions speak louder than words.)
Because the Arabic proverb condemns those who show affection and kindness, but conceal the true benefit.