Friday, June 12, 2026

His lice have crept in. دَبَّ قَمْلُهُ.

  دَبَّ قَمْلُهُ.
مثل يضرب للإنسان إذا سَمِن وحَسُن حالُه.
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His lice have crept in.
A proverb used to describe someone who has become wealthy and prosperous.
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المثل العربي «دَبَّ قَمْلُهُ» يُضرب لمن تحسنت حاله، وسمن، وظهرت عليه آثار الرخاء واليسر بعد ضيق أو فقر.
ومن أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية: He's living high on the hog.
يعيش في رخاء ورفاهية. ← الأقرب مثلًا.
He's doing well for himself.
أصبح في حال جيدة وميسورة.
He's put on weight and prospered.
سمن وازدهرت أحواله.
He's come up in the world.
تحسنت مكانته وأحواله.
He's fat and happy.
أصبح سمينًا وراضيًا/مرتاح البال.
(تعبير دارج يشير إلى الرخاء والراحة).
وأقرب مثل إنجليزي يؤدي المعنى هو:
He's living high on the hog.
أما إذا أُريد التركيز على أن الرخاء ظهر على جسمه وهيئته، فالتعبير:
He's fat and happy.
هو الأقرب.
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The Arabic proverb "dabba qamluh" (his lice crept in) is used to describe someone whose circumstances have improved, who has gained weight, and who now shows signs of prosperity and ease after a period of hardship or poverty.
Some of the closest English equivalents are:
He's living high on the hog.
He lives in comfort and luxury.
He's doing well for himself.
He's become well-off and prosperous.
He's put on weight and prospered.
He's come up in the world.
He's become fat and happy.
(A common expression referring to prosperity and comfort).
The closest English proverb that conveys the meaning is:
He's living high on the hog.
However, if the emphasis is on the fact that the prosperity is evident in his physical appearance, the expression:
He's fat and happy.
This is the closest.

The one who guides to good is like the one who does it. الدَّالَّ عَلَى الْخَيْرِ كَفَاعله.

الدَّالَّ عَلَى الْخَيْرِ كَفَاعله.
هذا يورى في حديث عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، وقال المفضل: أولُ مَنْ قاله اللُّجَيْجُ بن شُنَيف اليربوعي في قصة طويلة ذكرها في كتابه الفاخر
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The one who guides to good is like the one who does it.
This is mentioned in a hadith from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Al-Mufaddal said: The first to say it was Al-Lujayj ibn Shunayf Al-Yarbu'i in a long story he mentioned in his book, Al-Fakhir.
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التعبير العربي «الدالُّ على الخير كفاعله» معناه أن من يرشد إلى عمل صالح أو يتسبب فيه ينال مثل أجر فاعله.
وأقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية: He who helps others do good shares in the reward.
من يعين غيره على فعل الخير يشارك في الأجر.
The one who points the way to good is as one who does it.
من يدل على الخير فكأنه فعله. ← ترجمة مباشرة.
A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.
الشمعة لا تخسر شيئًا عندما تشعل شمعة أخرى.
ويُستعمل للدلالة على أن نشر الخير والمعرفة لا ينقص صاحبه.
Good begets good.
الخير يولِّد الخير.
Those who inspire good deeds share in their fruits.
من يلهم الأعمال الصالحة يشارك في ثمارها.
فإذا كنت تبحث عن مقابل مثلٍ أو حكمةٍ مأثورة في الإنجليزية، فأقربها هو:
A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.
أما إذا أُريد نقل المعنى بدقة، فالأفضل:
The one who points the way to good is as one who does it
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The Arabic expression "The one who guides to good is like the one who does it" means that whoever guides others to a good deed or causes it to happen receives a reward equal to that of the one who performs it.
The closest English equivalents are:
He who helps others do good shares in the reward.
The one who points the way to good is as one who does it.
A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.
This is used to indicate that spreading goodness and knowledge does not diminish the one who does it.
Good begets good.
Those who inspire good deeds share in their fruits.
So, if you are looking for an English equivalent for this proverb or saying, the closest is:
A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.
However, if the meaning is to be conveyed accurately, the best approach is:
The one who points the way to good is as one who does it.

He perceived something through his own intuition. أَدْرَكَ أَمْراً بِجِنّهِ.

أَدْرَكَ أَمْراً بِجِنّهِ.
أي بِحِدثان عهده وقُرْبه.
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He perceived something through his own intuition.
That is, through its recent occurrence and proximity.
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المثل «أَدْرَكَ أَمْرًا بِجِنِّهِ» يعني: أدرك الشيء في بدايته أو عند حدوثه، أي وهو ما يزال حديث العهد وقريب الوقوع.
ومن أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية: He caught it in its infancy.
أدركه وهو في بدايته. ← الأقرب.
He got in on the ground floor.
دخل فيه منذ بدايته.
He was there from the very beginning.
كان حاضرًا منذ البداية.
He caught it early.
أدركه مبكرًا.
He nipped it in the bud.
قضى عليه في مهده (إذا كان المقصود معالجة أمر قبل استفحاله).
وأقرب مقابل للمثل في المعنى هو:
He caught it in its infancy.
أو بصيغة مثلية أكثر شيوعًا:
He got in on the ground floor.
إذا كان المقصود أنه شهد الأمر أو أدركه منذ نشأته الأولى.
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The proverb "He caught it in its infancy" means: He grasped the matter at its very beginning or while it was still happening, i.e., while it was still new and about to occur.
Some of the closest English equivalents are:
He caught it in its infancy.
He got in on the ground floor.
He was there from the very beginning.
He caught it early.
He nipped it in the bud.
He nipped it in the bud (if the intention is to address a matter before it escalates).
The closest equivalent in meaning is:
He caught it in its infancy.
Or, in a more common proverbial form:
He got in on the ground floor.
If the intention is that he witnessed or grasped the matter from its very inception.


Leave a man to his own devices.دَعِ امْرأً وَمَا اخْتَارَ.

دَعِ امْرأً وَمَا اخْتَارَ.
يضرب لن لا يقبل وعْظَكَ، يقال: دَعْه واختياره، كما قيل:
إذا المرءُ لم يدر ما أمكنه ... ولم يأتِ من أمْرِهِ أزْيَنَهْ
وأعْجَبَه العجب فاقْتَادَهُ ... وتَاهَ به التيهُ فاسْتَحْسَنَهْ
فدَعْهُ فقد ساء تَدْبِيرُهُ ... سَيَضْحَكُ يَوْماً ويبكي سَنَةْ
ونكَّر قوله "امْرَأَ" لأنه أراد بالنكرة العمومَ كقوله تعالى {آتِنَا في الدنيا حَسَنةً وفي الآخرة حسنة}
والواو في قوله "وما اختار" بمعنى مع، أي اتْرُكْهُ مع اختياره وكِلْه إليه.
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Leave a man to his own devices.
This proverb is used when someone refuses to heed your advice. It is said, "Leave him to his choice," as in the saying:
If a man does not know what is possible for him... and does not choose the best course of action for himself,
And is captivated by vanity and led astray... and is lost in its own delusions and finds them pleasing,
then leave him be, for his planning is flawed... He will laugh one day and weep for a year. The word "man" is indefinite because the indefinite form implies generality, as in the verse, "Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter." The "and" in "what he has chosen" means "with," i.e., leave him to his choice and entrust it to him.
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المثل العربي «دَعِ امرأً وما اختار» يُضرب لمن لا يقبل النصيحة، فيُترك وشأنه وما اختاره لنفسه، حتى يتعلم من عواقب قراره.
ومن أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية: Let him have his own way.
دعه يفعل ما يشاء.
Leave him to his own devices.
اتركه وشأنه وما اختاره لنفسه. ← وهو الأقرب في المعنى.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
يمكنك أن تقود الحصان إلى الماء، لكن لا يمكنك أن تجبره على الشرب.
ويُضرب لمن يرفض النصيحة أو الإرشاد.
Let him learn the hard way.
دعه يتعلم بالطريقة الصعبة (من نتائج أفعاله).
A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.
من يُقنع على غير إرادته يبقى على رأيه.
أي إن النصيحة لا تنفع من لا يريد قبولها.
وأقرب مثل إنجليزي من حيث الوظيفة المثلية هو:
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
أما إذا أُريد المعنى الحرفي «اتركه مع اختياره»، فأقرب تعبير هو:
Leave him to his own devices.
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The Arabic proverb "Leave a man to his own devices" is used to describe someone who doesn't accept advice. They should be left to their own devices and their own choices, so they can learn from the consequences of their decisions.
Some of the closest English equivalents are:
Let him have his own way.
Leave him to his own devices.
This is the closest in meaning.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
This is used to describe someone who refuses advice or guidance.
Let him learn the hard way.
A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.
In other words, advice is useless to someone who doesn't want to accept it.
The closest English proverb in terms of its literal meaning is:
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
However, if the literal meaning of "leave him to his own devices" is intended, the closest expression is:
Leave him to his own devices.

His intellect betrayed him. دَلَّ عَلَيْهِ إِرْبُهُ.

دَلَّ عَلَيْهِ إِرْبُهُ. 
قال أبو عمرو: يقال للرجل الدميم تقتحمه العين ولا يُؤْبَنُ بشيء من النجدة والفضل: دل عليه إربه، أي عَقْله.
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Abu Amr said: It is said of an ugly man, one who is not easily recognizable and who possesses no virtue or merit: His intellect betrayed him.
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التعبير العربي «دَلَّ عَلَيْهِ إِرْبُهُ» يُقال للرجل الذي لا يلفت النظر بمظهره أو هيئته، لكن فضله وعقله وشجاعته تكشف عن قيمته الحقيقية.
ليس له مقابل حرفي في الإنجليزية، لكن من أقرب الأمثال والتعابير: Don't judge a book by its cover.
«لا تحكم على الكتاب من غلافه.»
أي لا تقوِّم الناس من مظهرهم، فقد تكون قيمتهم الحقيقية في عقولهم وفضائلهم.
ومن التعابير الأقرب إلى المعنى الخاص: His worth is known by his character, not his looks.
تُعرف قيمته بأخلاقه وصفاته، لا بمظهره.
Wisdom and merit speak for themselves.
الحكمة والفضل يدلان على صاحبهما.
Appearances can be deceiving.
المظاهر قد تكون خادعة.
وأقرب مثل إنجليزي شائع يؤدي المعنى العام هو:
Don't judge a book by its cover 

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The Arabic expression “دَلَّ عَلَيْهِ إِرْبُهُ” is used to describe a man whose appearance or demeanor doesn't immediately attract attention, but whose virtue, intellect, and courage reveal his true worth.
While there is no direct English equivalent, some of the closest proverbs and expressions include:
“Don't judge a book by its cover.”
“Do not judge a book by its cover.”
This means don't judge people by their appearance; their true value may lie in their intellect and virtues.
Other expressions that closely convey this specific meaning include:
“His worth is known by his character, not his looks.”
“Wisdom and merit speak for themselves.”
“Appearances can be deceiving.”
The closest common English proverb that conveys this general meaning is:
“Don't judge a book by its cover.”


مميزة

More protective than the protector of the caravan أحمى من مجير الظعن

أحمى من مجير الظعن هو ربيعة بن مكدم الكناني. ومن حديثه، فيما ذكر أبو عبيدة، أن نبيشة بن حبيب السلمي خرج غازياً فلقي ظعناً من كنانة بالكديد ...