أَخْبَثُ مِنْ ذِئْبِ الْخَمَرِ، وَأَخْبَثُ مِنْ ذِئْبِ الغَضَى.
قال حمزة: العرب تسمي ضروباً من البهائم بضروب من المراعي تَنْسُبها إليها، فيقولون: أرنب الخلة، وضَبُّ السحا، وظبي الحلب، وتيس الربلة، وقنفذ برقة، وشيطان الحَمَاطة، وذلك كله على قدر طِباع الأمكنة والأغْذِية العاملة في طباع الحيوان، وفي أسجاع ابنة الخُسِّ: أخبثُ الذئابِ ذئب الغَضَى، وأخبث الأفاعي أفْعَى الجدب، وأسرع الظباء ظباء الحلب، وأشد الرجال الأعجف، وأجمل النساء الفَخْمة الأسيلة، وأقبح النساء الْجَهْمَة القفرة، وآكَلُ الدواب الرَّغُوث، وأطيب اللحم عوّذه، وأغْلَظُ المَوَاطئ الحَصَا على الصَّفَا، وشر المال ما لا يُزَكَّى ولا يُذَكى، وخير المال مُهْرَة مأمورة أو سكة مأبُورَة.
قال: وعلى هذا المجرى حكاية حكاها ابن الأعرابي عن العرب، زعَم أنه قيل للبكرية: ما شجرة أبيك؟ فقالت: العَرْفَجَة إذا قُدِحَت التهبت، وإذا خليت قصبت، وقيل للقيسية: ما شجرة أبيك؟ فقالت: الخلة، ذليقة الدرة، حديدة الجرة، وقيل للتميمية: ما شجرة أبيك؟ فقالت: الإسليح رغوة وصريح، وسَنَام إطريح، تُفيئه الريح، وقيل للأسدية: ما شجرة أبيك؟ فقالن: الشرشر، وطب حشر، وغلام أشر، حشر: أي وسخ، ووسخ الوَطْب من اللبن يدعى حشراً.
قلت: قوله "وطب حشر" كذا قرئ على حمزة بالحاء، وروى عنه والصواب جشر بالجيم، وكذا في التهذيب عن الأزهري، وفي الصحاح عن الجوهري: قال حمزة: [ص: 260]والسنام الإطريح: المرتفع، يقال: طَرَحَ القوم بناءهم، أي رفعوه وطَوَّلوه، والحلب: شجرة حلوة فلذلك ظباؤها أسرع، وأبطأ الظباء ظباء الحَمْضِ، لأن الحمض مالح.
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More cunning than a wolf in a wine-growing region, and more cunning than a wolf in a thicket.
Hamza said: The Arabs name certain types of animals after types of pastures to which they are related. They say: the rabbit of the thicket, the lizard of the desert, the gazelle of the desert, the ram of the desert, the hedgehog of the desert, and the devil of the desert. All of this is according to the nature of the places and the foods that affect the animal's temperament. In the rhymed prose of the daughter of Khuss: The most cunning of wolves is the wolf of the thicket, the most cunning of snakes is the viper of the desert, the swiftest of gazelles are the gazelles of the desert, the strongest of men is the lean one, the most beautiful of women is the elegant and graceful one, the ugliest of women is the gloomy and desolate one, the most voracious of animals is the flea, the tastiest meat is the one with aloes, the roughest foothold is the pebbles on the smooth rock, the worst wealth is that which is neither purified nor slaughtered, and the best wealth is a well-trained mare or a well-trained mare. Mabura.
He said: And on this same note, Ibn al-A'rabi related a story about the Arabs. He claimed that the Bakri woman was asked: "What is your father's tree?" She replied: "The *'arfaja* tree; when struck, it ignites, and when left unattended, it becomes brittle." The Qaysi woman was asked: "What is your father's tree?" She replied: "The *khalla* tree, with its sharp edges and strong, round jars." The Tamimi woman was asked: "What is your father's tree?" She replied: "The *islih* tree, with its foam and clear sap, and its hump is like a camel's hump, which the wind sways." The Asadi woman was asked: "What is your father's tree?" She replied: "The *sharshar* tree, and a *hashr* tree, and a *ghulam ashar* tree." *Hashr* means dirty, and the dirt from a *watb* (a type of milk container) is called *hashr*.
I said: His saying “and the hamza was raised” was read to Hamza with a “ha” and it was narrated from him, and the correct word is “jashar” with a “jim,” and likewise in Al-Tahdhib on the authority of Al-Azhari, and in Al-Sahah on the authority of Al-Jawhari: Hamza said: [p. 260] “The raised hump” is the elevated one. It is said: “The people raised their building,” meaning they raised it and lengthened it. “Al-Halab” is a sweet tree, so its gazelles are faster, and the slowest of the gazelles are the gazelles of the salt tree, because the salt tree is salty.
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المثل العربي «أَخْبَثُ مِنْ ذِئْبِ الغَضَى» أو «ذِئْبِ الخَمَر» يُضرب لمن بلغ الغاية في الخبث والمكر وسوء الطبع. وليس المقصود الذئب مطلقًا، بل ذئبًا نُسب إلى بيئة أو مرعى عُرف عند العرب بأنه يُكسب الحيوان شراسة وخبثًا أشد.
ولا يوجد مقابل إنجليزي يطابق الصورة نفسها، لكن أقرب الأمثال والتعبيرات في الثقافة الإنجليزية هي: As cunning as a fox.
«ماكر كالثعلب.»
وهو أشهر تشبيه بالمكر والخبث.
A snake in the grass.
«حية في العشب.»
يضرب للخبيث الذي يخفي شره وغدره.
As sly as a fox.
«داهية أو خبيث كالثعلب.»
The devil incarnate.
«شيطان متجسد.»
يقال للمفرط في الشر والخبث.
Meaner than a junkyard dog.
«أشرس وأخبث من كلب حراسة.»
تعبير عامي أمريكي عن شدة الخبث والعدوانية.
وأقرب مقابل من حيث بلوغ الغاية في الخبث والمكر هو:
A snake in the grass.
أما إذا أريد التأكيد على الخبث الفطري المتأصل، فيمكن أن يقابله:
As sly as a fox.
وكما جعل العرب ذئب الغضى رمزًا للخبث، جعلت الثقافة الإنجليزية الثعلب رمزًا للمكر والدهاء، والحية رمزًا للخبث والغدر.
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The Arabic proverb “More cunning than a wolf of the thicket” or “a wolf of the vineyard” is used to describe someone who has reached the pinnacle of cunning, deceit, and ill-temper. It doesn't refer to a wolf in general, but rather to a wolf associated with a specific environment or pasture known among Arabs to instill in animals greater ferocity and cunning.
There is no direct English equivalent, but some of the closest proverbs and expressions in English culture are:
As cunning as a fox.
“Cunning as a fox.”
This is the most common simile for cunning and deceit.
A snake in the grass.
“A snake in the grass.”
This is said of someone who is malicious and hides their evil and treachery.
As sly as a fox.
“A cunning or deceitful person like a fox.”
The devil incarnate.
“A devil incarnate.”
This is said of someone who is extremely evil and malicious.
Meaner than a junkyard dog.
"More vicious and cunning than a guard dog."
An American slang expression for extreme malice and aggression.
The closest equivalent, in terms of reaching the pinnacle of cunning and deceit, is
"A snake in the grass."
However, if one wants to emphasize an inherent, innate malice, one could use:
"As sly as a fox."
Just as the Arabs made the wolf a symbol of malice, English culture made the fox a symbol of cunning and shrewdness, and the snake a symbol of treachery and betrayal.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
More treacherous than a wolf. أَخْوَنُ مِنْ ذِئْبٍ.
أَخْوَنُ مِنْ ذِئْبٍ.
ويقولون في مثل آخر: "مستودع الذئب أظلم" وفي مثل آخر: "مَنْ اسْتَرْعَى الذئبَ ظلم" وقال الشاعر: أخْوَنُ مِنْ ذِئبٍ بِصَحْرَاءِ هَجَرْ ..
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More treacherous than a wolf.
And they say in another proverb: "A wolf's lair is darker," and in another: "He who entrusts a wolf with his flock is unjust." And the poet said: More treacherous than a wolf in the desert of Hajar...
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المثل العربي «أَخْوَنُ مِنْ ذِئْبٍ» يضرب لمن اشتد غدره وخيانته، وقد عزز العرب هذا المعنى بأمثال مثل: «مستودع الذئب أظلم» و «من استرعى الذئب ظلم»، أي أن من ائتمن الذئب على الغنم فقد ظلم نفسه.
ولا يوجد مثل إنجليزي يذكر الذئب تحديدًا بوصفه رمزًا للخيانة، لكن توجد أمثال وتعبيرات تؤدي المعنى نفسه، منها: Set a wolf to keep the sheep.
«اجعل الذئب حارسًا للغنم.»
وهو أقرب مقابل للمثل العربي «من استرعى الذئب ظلم»، ويضرب لمن يأتمن الخائن أو يولي غير الأمين ما لا يؤتمن عليه.
A fox should not be of the jury at a goose's trial.
«لا ينبغي للثعلب أن يكون قاضيًا في محاكمة الإوز.»
أي لا يُؤتمن صاحب المصلحة أو الخائن.
To betray someone like a snake in the grass.
«يخونه كحية مختبئة في العشب.»
ويستعمل للخيانة والغدر الخفي.
Trusting him is like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.
«الثقة به كجعل الثعلب مسؤولًا عن بيت الدجاج.»
وهو تعبير شائع قريب المعنى.
أما إذا أُريد مقابل «أخون من ذئب» من حيث شدة الخيانة والغدر، فأقرب ما يقابله في الثقافة الإنجليزية هو:
Set a wolf to keep the sheep.
وللدلالة على الشخص الخائن نفسه:
He's a snake in the grass.
«إنه خائن غادر يتربص بمن حوله.»
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The Arabic proverb "More treacherous than a wolf" is used to describe someone extremely deceitful and treacherous. Arabs reinforced this meaning with proverbs such as "A wolf's den is darker" and "He who entrusts the sheep to a wolf is unjust," meaning that whoever entrusts the sheep to a wolf has wronged himself.
While there is no English proverb that specifically mentions the wolf as a symbol of treachery, there are proverbs and expressions that convey the same meaning, including:
"Set a wolf to keep the sheep."
This is the closest equivalent to the Arabic proverb "He who entrusts the sheep to a wolf is unjust," and it is used to describe someone who trusts a traitor or gives an untrustworthy person something they cannot be trusted with.
"A fox should not be of the jury at a goose's trial."
This means that a self-serving or treacherous person should not be trusted.
"To betray someone like a snake in the grass."
"To betray someone like a snake hiding in the grass." It is used to describe treachery and hidden betrayal.
Trusting him is like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.
This is a common expression with a similar meaning.
However, if the closest equivalent in English culture is "more treacherous than a wolf" in terms of the severity of the treachery and betrayal, then:
Set a wolf to keep the sheep.
To refer to the treacherous person himself:
He's a snake in the grass.
He is a treacherous, deceitful person who lies in wait for those around him.
ويقولون في مثل آخر: "مستودع الذئب أظلم" وفي مثل آخر: "مَنْ اسْتَرْعَى الذئبَ ظلم" وقال الشاعر: أخْوَنُ مِنْ ذِئبٍ بِصَحْرَاءِ هَجَرْ ..
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More treacherous than a wolf.
And they say in another proverb: "A wolf's lair is darker," and in another: "He who entrusts a wolf with his flock is unjust." And the poet said: More treacherous than a wolf in the desert of Hajar...
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المثل العربي «أَخْوَنُ مِنْ ذِئْبٍ» يضرب لمن اشتد غدره وخيانته، وقد عزز العرب هذا المعنى بأمثال مثل: «مستودع الذئب أظلم» و «من استرعى الذئب ظلم»، أي أن من ائتمن الذئب على الغنم فقد ظلم نفسه.
ولا يوجد مثل إنجليزي يذكر الذئب تحديدًا بوصفه رمزًا للخيانة، لكن توجد أمثال وتعبيرات تؤدي المعنى نفسه، منها: Set a wolf to keep the sheep.
«اجعل الذئب حارسًا للغنم.»
وهو أقرب مقابل للمثل العربي «من استرعى الذئب ظلم»، ويضرب لمن يأتمن الخائن أو يولي غير الأمين ما لا يؤتمن عليه.
A fox should not be of the jury at a goose's trial.
«لا ينبغي للثعلب أن يكون قاضيًا في محاكمة الإوز.»
أي لا يُؤتمن صاحب المصلحة أو الخائن.
To betray someone like a snake in the grass.
«يخونه كحية مختبئة في العشب.»
ويستعمل للخيانة والغدر الخفي.
Trusting him is like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.
«الثقة به كجعل الثعلب مسؤولًا عن بيت الدجاج.»
وهو تعبير شائع قريب المعنى.
أما إذا أُريد مقابل «أخون من ذئب» من حيث شدة الخيانة والغدر، فأقرب ما يقابله في الثقافة الإنجليزية هو:
Set a wolf to keep the sheep.
وللدلالة على الشخص الخائن نفسه:
He's a snake in the grass.
«إنه خائن غادر يتربص بمن حوله.»
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The Arabic proverb "More treacherous than a wolf" is used to describe someone extremely deceitful and treacherous. Arabs reinforced this meaning with proverbs such as "A wolf's den is darker" and "He who entrusts the sheep to a wolf is unjust," meaning that whoever entrusts the sheep to a wolf has wronged himself.
While there is no English proverb that specifically mentions the wolf as a symbol of treachery, there are proverbs and expressions that convey the same meaning, including:
"Set a wolf to keep the sheep."
This is the closest equivalent to the Arabic proverb "He who entrusts the sheep to a wolf is unjust," and it is used to describe someone who trusts a traitor or gives an untrustworthy person something they cannot be trusted with.
"A fox should not be of the jury at a goose's trial."
This means that a self-serving or treacherous person should not be trusted.
"To betray someone like a snake in the grass."
"To betray someone like a snake hiding in the grass." It is used to describe treachery and hidden betrayal.
Trusting him is like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.
This is a common expression with a similar meaning.
However, if the closest equivalent in English culture is "more treacherous than a wolf" in terms of the severity of the treachery and betrayal, then:
Set a wolf to keep the sheep.
To refer to the treacherous person himself:
He's a snake in the grass.
He is a treacherous, deceitful person who lies in wait for those around him.
More boastful than a raven. أَخْيَلُ مِنْ غُرَابٍ.
أَخْيَلُ مِنْ غُرَابٍ.
لأنه يَخُتال في مِشْيته.
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More boastful than a raven.
Because it struts about in its gait.
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المثل العربي «أَخْيَلُ مِنْ غُرَابٍ» يُضرب لمن يتبختر ويتباهى في مشيته وهيئته، تشبيهًا بالغراب الذي يبدو كأنه يختال أثناء سيره.
ومن أقرب المقابلات في الثقافة الإنجليزية: As proud as a peacock.
«مغرور أو مختال كطاووس.»
وهو أشهر تعبير إنجليزي للدلالة على التبختر والزهو.
To strut like a peacock.
«يتبختر كطاووس.»
ويستعمل لوصف المشية المتعالية أو الاستعراضية.
To strut about.
«يمشي مختالًا أو متبخترًا.»
Proud as Punch.
«في غاية الزهو والاعتداد بالنفس.»
لكنه يركز على الشعور بالفخر أكثر من المشية المختالة.
وأقرب مقابل من حيث الاختيال في المشية هو:
To strut like a peacock.
«يتبختر كطاووس.»
إذ إن الطاووس في الثقافة الإنجليزية يؤدي الدور الرمزي نفسه الذي أداه الغراب في هذا المثل العربي، وهو التبختر والزهو
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The Arabic proverb "More boastful than a crow" is used to describe someone who struts and shows off in their walk and appearance, likening them to a crow that seems to swagger as it walks.
A close equivalent in English culture is:
"As proud as a peacock."
"Arrogant or boastful like a peacock."
This is the most common English expression for strutting and boasting.
"To strut like a peacock."
"To strut like a peacock."
Used to describe an arrogant or ostentatious gait.
"To strut about."
"To walk with arrogance or swagger."
"Proud as Punch."
"Extremely proud and self-important."
But this emphasizes the feeling of pride more than the swaggering gait itself.
The closest equivalent in terms of swaggering in walking is:
"To strut like a peacock."
"To strut like a peacock."
"To strut like a peacock."
"To be extremely proud and self-absorbed."
This focuses more on the feeling of pride than the swaggering gait.
The closest equivalent in terms of swaggering in walking is:
"To strut like a peacock."
"To strut like a peacock."
"To strut like a peacock. "He struts like a peacock."
For in English culture, the peacock plays the same symbolic role as the crow in this Arabic proverb: strutting and boasting.
لأنه يَخُتال في مِشْيته.
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More boastful than a raven.
Because it struts about in its gait.
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المثل العربي «أَخْيَلُ مِنْ غُرَابٍ» يُضرب لمن يتبختر ويتباهى في مشيته وهيئته، تشبيهًا بالغراب الذي يبدو كأنه يختال أثناء سيره.
ومن أقرب المقابلات في الثقافة الإنجليزية: As proud as a peacock.
«مغرور أو مختال كطاووس.»
وهو أشهر تعبير إنجليزي للدلالة على التبختر والزهو.
To strut like a peacock.
«يتبختر كطاووس.»
ويستعمل لوصف المشية المتعالية أو الاستعراضية.
To strut about.
«يمشي مختالًا أو متبخترًا.»
Proud as Punch.
«في غاية الزهو والاعتداد بالنفس.»
لكنه يركز على الشعور بالفخر أكثر من المشية المختالة.
وأقرب مقابل من حيث الاختيال في المشية هو:
To strut like a peacock.
«يتبختر كطاووس.»
إذ إن الطاووس في الثقافة الإنجليزية يؤدي الدور الرمزي نفسه الذي أداه الغراب في هذا المثل العربي، وهو التبختر والزهو
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The Arabic proverb "More boastful than a crow" is used to describe someone who struts and shows off in their walk and appearance, likening them to a crow that seems to swagger as it walks.
A close equivalent in English culture is:
"As proud as a peacock."
"Arrogant or boastful like a peacock."
This is the most common English expression for strutting and boasting.
"To strut like a peacock."
"To strut like a peacock."
Used to describe an arrogant or ostentatious gait.
"To strut about."
"To walk with arrogance or swagger."
"Proud as Punch."
"Extremely proud and self-important."
But this emphasizes the feeling of pride more than the swaggering gait itself.
The closest equivalent in terms of swaggering in walking is:
"To strut like a peacock."
"To strut like a peacock."
"To strut like a peacock."
"To be extremely proud and self-absorbed."
This focuses more on the feeling of pride than the swaggering gait.
The closest equivalent in terms of swaggering in walking is:
"To strut like a peacock."
"To strut like a peacock."
"To strut like a peacock. "He struts like a peacock."
For in English culture, the peacock plays the same symbolic role as the crow in this Arabic proverb: strutting and boasting.
More arrogant than a humiliated woman. أَخْيَلُ مِنْ مُذَالَة.
أَخْيَلُ مِنْ مُذَالَة.
يَعْنُون الأمة، لأنها تُهَان وهي تتبختر.
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More arrogant than a humiliated woman.
They mean the nation, because it is humiliated while it struts about.
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المثل العربي «أَخْيَلُ مِنْ مُذَالَة» يُضرب لمن يجمع بين الذلة والاختيال، أو لمن يتباهى ويتكبر رغم وضاعة حاله أو خضوعه.
ولا يوجد مقابل إنجليزي مطابق تمامًا، لكن من أقرب التعابير والأمثال الإنجليزية: Pride and poverty go hand in hand.
«الكبرياء والفقر يسيران معًا.» ويقال عن الشخص الذي يتباهى رغم سوء حاله.
All hat and no cattle. (مثل أمريكي)
حرفيًا: «قبعة كبيرة ولا ماشية له.» ويُضرب لمن يتظاهر بالعظمة والمكانة وهو يفتقر إلى ما يبررها.
Putting on airs.
أي «يتصنع التكبر أو التعالي»، خاصة إذا كانت منزلته الحقيقية متواضعة.
Proud as a peacock, with nothing to show for it.
«متباهٍ كطاووس، وليس لديه ما يفاخر به.» وهو تعبير وصفي لا مثل ثابت.
وأقرب مقابل من حيث المعنى والسخرية هو:
All hat and no cattle.
لأنه يصور شخصًا يتظاهر بالعظمة والمهابة بينما واقعه لا يوافق ذلك، وهو قريب من معنى «أخيل من مذالة».
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The Arabic proverb “More arrogant than humiliated” is used to describe someone who combines humiliation with arrogance, or someone who boasts and is haughty despite their low status or subservience.
There is no exact English equivalent, but some of the closest English expressions and proverbs are:
Pride and poverty go hand in hand.
“Pride and poverty go hand in hand.” This is said about someone who boasts despite their poor circumstances.
All hat and no cattle. (American proverb)
Literally: “A big hat and no cattle.” This is said about someone who pretends to be great and important but lacks the justification for it.
Putting on airs.
Meaning: “To feign arrogance or superiority,” especially if their actual status is modest.
Proud as a peacock, with nothing to show for it.
“Proud as a peacock, with nothing to show for it.” This is a descriptive expression, not a fixed proverb.
The closest equivalent, in terms of meaning and irony, is:
All hat and no cattle.
This is because it portrays someone who feigns greatness and prestige while their reality contradicts it, and it is close in meaning to "Achilles of humiliation."
يَعْنُون الأمة، لأنها تُهَان وهي تتبختر.
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More arrogant than a humiliated woman.
They mean the nation, because it is humiliated while it struts about.
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المثل العربي «أَخْيَلُ مِنْ مُذَالَة» يُضرب لمن يجمع بين الذلة والاختيال، أو لمن يتباهى ويتكبر رغم وضاعة حاله أو خضوعه.
ولا يوجد مقابل إنجليزي مطابق تمامًا، لكن من أقرب التعابير والأمثال الإنجليزية: Pride and poverty go hand in hand.
«الكبرياء والفقر يسيران معًا.» ويقال عن الشخص الذي يتباهى رغم سوء حاله.
All hat and no cattle. (مثل أمريكي)
حرفيًا: «قبعة كبيرة ولا ماشية له.» ويُضرب لمن يتظاهر بالعظمة والمكانة وهو يفتقر إلى ما يبررها.
Putting on airs.
أي «يتصنع التكبر أو التعالي»، خاصة إذا كانت منزلته الحقيقية متواضعة.
Proud as a peacock, with nothing to show for it.
«متباهٍ كطاووس، وليس لديه ما يفاخر به.» وهو تعبير وصفي لا مثل ثابت.
وأقرب مقابل من حيث المعنى والسخرية هو:
All hat and no cattle.
لأنه يصور شخصًا يتظاهر بالعظمة والمهابة بينما واقعه لا يوافق ذلك، وهو قريب من معنى «أخيل من مذالة».
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The Arabic proverb “More arrogant than humiliated” is used to describe someone who combines humiliation with arrogance, or someone who boasts and is haughty despite their low status or subservience.
There is no exact English equivalent, but some of the closest English expressions and proverbs are:
Pride and poverty go hand in hand.
“Pride and poverty go hand in hand.” This is said about someone who boasts despite their poor circumstances.
All hat and no cattle. (American proverb)
Literally: “A big hat and no cattle.” This is said about someone who pretends to be great and important but lacks the justification for it.
Putting on airs.
Meaning: “To feign arrogance or superiority,” especially if their actual status is modest.
Proud as a peacock, with nothing to show for it.
“Proud as a peacock, with nothing to show for it.” This is a descriptive expression, not a fixed proverb.
The closest equivalent, in terms of meaning and irony, is:
All hat and no cattle.
This is because it portrays someone who feigns greatness and prestige while their reality contradicts it, and it is close in meaning to "Achilles of humiliation."
More cunning than a lizard أَخْدَعُ مِنْ ضَبٍّ.
أَخْدَعُ مِنْ ضَبٍّ.
التخدُّع: التواري، والمَخْدضع من هذا أخذ، وهو بيتٌ في جَوْف بيت يُتَوَارى فيه، وقالوا في الضب ذلك لتواريه وطول إقامته في جُحْره وقلة ظهوره.
وقال أبو على لكذه: خدع الضب إنما يكون من شدة حَذَره، وأما صفة خدعه فأن يعمد بذنبه باب جُحْره ليضربَ به حيةً أو شيئاً آخر إن جاءه، فيجيء المتحرشُ فإن كان الضب مجربا أخرج ذنبه إلى نصف الجحر، فإن دخل عليه شيء ضربه، وإلا بقي في جحره، فهذا هو خدعه، قال الشاعر:
وأخْدَعُ من ضَبٍّ إذا جاء حَارِشٌ ... أعَدَّ له عند الذنابة عَقْرَباَ
وذلك أن بيت الضب لا يخلو من عقرب، لما من الألفة والاستعانة بها على المحترش، هذا قول أهل اللغة.
وقال بعض أصحاب المعاني: العربُ تذكر الضبَّ والضبع والوحر والعقربَ في مجاري كلامها من طريق الاستعارة، فأما الضبُّ فإنهم يقولون: فلان خَبٌّ ضَبٌّ، فيشبهون الحقد الكامن في قلبه الذي يَسْرِي ضَرَرُه بخدع الضب في جحره، وأما الضبع فإنهم يجعلونها اسماً للسنة الشديدة، إذ كانت الضبعُ أفْسَدَ شيء من الدواب، فشبهوا بها السنة الشديدة التي تأكل المال، وأما الوحر فإنه دُوَيبة حمراء إذا جَثَمت تَلْزَق بالأرض فيقولون منه: وَحِرَ صَدْرُ فلانٍ، ذهبوا إلى التزاق الحقد بالصدر كالتزاق الوَحَرِ بالأرض وأما العقرب فإنهم يقولون: سَرَتْ عقاربُ فلانٍ، وفلان تَدِبُّ عقاربه، إذا خَفِيَ مكان شره.
قلت: والمثل أعني قولهم "أخدع من ضب" يضرب لمن تطلُبُ إليه شيئاً، وهو يَرُوغُ إلى غيره.
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More cunning than a lizard
. The word "takhda'u" (تخدّع) means to hide or conceal oneself. The word "makhda'a" (مخدّع) is derived from this root and refers to a chamber within a chamber where one hides. This term is applied to the lizard because of its tendency to hide, its long stay in its burrow, and its infrequent appearances.
Abu Ali said regarding this: The lizard's cunning stems from its extreme caution. Its method of deception involves extending its tail towards the entrance of its burrow to strike a snake or something else that might approach. If the aggressor comes, and the lizard is experienced, it will extend its tail halfway into the burrow. If something enters, it will strike; otherwise, it will remain in its burrow. This is its cunning. The poet said:
More cunning than a lizard when an aggressor comes... it prepares a scorpion for him at its tail.
This is because a lizard's burrow is never without a scorpion, due to its familiarity with the lizard and its use in attacking the aggressor. This is the opinion of the linguists. Some scholars of meaning said: The Arabs mention the lizard, the hyena, the hyena, and the scorpion in their speech metaphorically. As for the lizard, they say: So-and-so is a cunning lizard, likening the hidden malice in his heart, whose harm spreads, to the deceit of the lizard in its burrow. As for the hyena, they use it as a name for a severe year, since the hyena was the most destructive of animals, so they likened the severe year that consumes wealth to it. As for the hyena, it is a small red creature that, when it crouches, sticks to the ground, so they say: So-and-so's heart is filled with malice, meaning that malice sticks to the heart like a hyena sticks to the ground. As for the scorpion, they say: So-and-so's scorpions have crept in, and so-and-so's scorpions are creeping in, when the source of his evil is hidden. I said: The proverb, I mean their saying “more cunning than a lizard,” is used to describe someone from whom you ask for something, and he evades it to someone else.
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The closest English equivalent to the proverb "more cunning than a lizard," meaning someone who is evasive and elusive, dodging requests and concealing their intentions, is:
As sly as a fox.
Extremely cunning or evasive.
If the focus is on evasion and maneuvering rather than cunning, suitable expressions include:
He always keeps something up his sleeve.
To dodge the issue.
To be as slippery as an eel.
Veiled and difficult to hold or compel.
Considering the explanation at the end of the text: "It is said of someone who, when asked for something, evades the request," the closest semantic equivalent is:
He is as slippery as an eel.
(He is elusive and difficult to catch or get to do what is asked of him.)
But if the aim is to highlight hidden cunning and deceit, then "As sly as a fox" is the most famous.
التخدُّع: التواري، والمَخْدضع من هذا أخذ، وهو بيتٌ في جَوْف بيت يُتَوَارى فيه، وقالوا في الضب ذلك لتواريه وطول إقامته في جُحْره وقلة ظهوره.
وقال أبو على لكذه: خدع الضب إنما يكون من شدة حَذَره، وأما صفة خدعه فأن يعمد بذنبه باب جُحْره ليضربَ به حيةً أو شيئاً آخر إن جاءه، فيجيء المتحرشُ فإن كان الضب مجربا أخرج ذنبه إلى نصف الجحر، فإن دخل عليه شيء ضربه، وإلا بقي في جحره، فهذا هو خدعه، قال الشاعر:
وأخْدَعُ من ضَبٍّ إذا جاء حَارِشٌ ... أعَدَّ له عند الذنابة عَقْرَباَ
وذلك أن بيت الضب لا يخلو من عقرب، لما من الألفة والاستعانة بها على المحترش، هذا قول أهل اللغة.
وقال بعض أصحاب المعاني: العربُ تذكر الضبَّ والضبع والوحر والعقربَ في مجاري كلامها من طريق الاستعارة، فأما الضبُّ فإنهم يقولون: فلان خَبٌّ ضَبٌّ، فيشبهون الحقد الكامن في قلبه الذي يَسْرِي ضَرَرُه بخدع الضب في جحره، وأما الضبع فإنهم يجعلونها اسماً للسنة الشديدة، إذ كانت الضبعُ أفْسَدَ شيء من الدواب، فشبهوا بها السنة الشديدة التي تأكل المال، وأما الوحر فإنه دُوَيبة حمراء إذا جَثَمت تَلْزَق بالأرض فيقولون منه: وَحِرَ صَدْرُ فلانٍ، ذهبوا إلى التزاق الحقد بالصدر كالتزاق الوَحَرِ بالأرض وأما العقرب فإنهم يقولون: سَرَتْ عقاربُ فلانٍ، وفلان تَدِبُّ عقاربه، إذا خَفِيَ مكان شره.
قلت: والمثل أعني قولهم "أخدع من ضب" يضرب لمن تطلُبُ إليه شيئاً، وهو يَرُوغُ إلى غيره.
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More cunning than a lizard
. The word "takhda'u" (تخدّع) means to hide or conceal oneself. The word "makhda'a" (مخدّع) is derived from this root and refers to a chamber within a chamber where one hides. This term is applied to the lizard because of its tendency to hide, its long stay in its burrow, and its infrequent appearances.
Abu Ali said regarding this: The lizard's cunning stems from its extreme caution. Its method of deception involves extending its tail towards the entrance of its burrow to strike a snake or something else that might approach. If the aggressor comes, and the lizard is experienced, it will extend its tail halfway into the burrow. If something enters, it will strike; otherwise, it will remain in its burrow. This is its cunning. The poet said:
More cunning than a lizard when an aggressor comes... it prepares a scorpion for him at its tail.
This is because a lizard's burrow is never without a scorpion, due to its familiarity with the lizard and its use in attacking the aggressor. This is the opinion of the linguists. Some scholars of meaning said: The Arabs mention the lizard, the hyena, the hyena, and the scorpion in their speech metaphorically. As for the lizard, they say: So-and-so is a cunning lizard, likening the hidden malice in his heart, whose harm spreads, to the deceit of the lizard in its burrow. As for the hyena, they use it as a name for a severe year, since the hyena was the most destructive of animals, so they likened the severe year that consumes wealth to it. As for the hyena, it is a small red creature that, when it crouches, sticks to the ground, so they say: So-and-so's heart is filled with malice, meaning that malice sticks to the heart like a hyena sticks to the ground. As for the scorpion, they say: So-and-so's scorpions have crept in, and so-and-so's scorpions are creeping in, when the source of his evil is hidden. I said: The proverb, I mean their saying “more cunning than a lizard,” is used to describe someone from whom you ask for something, and he evades it to someone else.
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The closest English equivalent to the proverb "more cunning than a lizard," meaning someone who is evasive and elusive, dodging requests and concealing their intentions, is:
As sly as a fox.
Extremely cunning or evasive.
If the focus is on evasion and maneuvering rather than cunning, suitable expressions include:
He always keeps something up his sleeve.
To dodge the issue.
To be as slippery as an eel.
Veiled and difficult to hold or compel.
Considering the explanation at the end of the text: "It is said of someone who, when asked for something, evades the request," the closest semantic equivalent is:
He is as slippery as an eel.
(He is elusive and difficult to catch or get to do what is asked of him.)
But if the aim is to highlight hidden cunning and deceit, then "As sly as a fox" is the most famous.
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