Take it, even if it costs you Maria's earrings خذه ولو بقرطي مارية

خذه ولو بقرطي مارية
هي، مارية بنت ظالم بن وهب، وأختها هند الهنود، امرأة حجر آكل المرار الكندي.
قال أبو عبيد: هي أم ولد جفنة. قال حسان:
أولاد جفنة حو لقبـر أبـيهـم
قبر ابن مارية الكريم المفضل
يقال أنها أهدت إلى الكعبة قرطيها وعليهما درتان كبيضي حمام لم ير الناس مثلهما، ولمن يدروا ما قيمتهما. يضرب في الشيء الثمين. أي لا يفوتنك بأي ثمن يكون.
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Take it, even if it costs you Maria's earrings.
She is Maria bint Zalim ibn Wahb, and her sister Hind al-Hind, the wife of Hajar Akil al-Murar al-Kindi.
Abu Ubayd said: She is the mother of Jafna's children. Hassan said: The children of Jafna gathered around their father's grave, the grave of Maria's noble and favored son.
It is said that she gifted her earrings to the Kaaba, and on them were two pearls like dove's eggs, the likes of which people had never seen, and no one knew their value. This is said of something precious. Meaning, don't let it slip away, no matter the price.
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المثل العربي «خُذْه ولو بقُرطي مارية» يُضرب في الحث على اغتنام الشيء النفيس أو الفرصة الثمينة، ولو كان ثمنها غاليًا. وأصله أن قرطي مارية كانا من أنفس الحلي وأغلاها قيمة، فصارا مثلًا في الشيء الباهظ الثمن.
وأقرب المقابلات في الثقافة الإنجليزية هي: It's worth every penny. ✅ أفضل مقابل إنه يستحق كل قرش يُدفع فيه.
وهو أشهر تعبير يدل على أن الشيء النفيس يستحق ثمنه مهما بلغ.
At any cost. بأي ثمن.
يوافق معنى «لا يفوتنك ولو كان غاليًا»، لكنه أعم.
Pay whatever it takes. ادفع ما يلزم للحصول عليه.
تعبير شائع، ويطابق المعنى مباشرة.
You get what you pay for. تحصل على ما تدفع ثمنه.
يفيد أن الجودة تستحق الثمن، لكنه ليس مطابقًا تمامًا للمثل.
أفضل مقابل
It's worth every penny.
لأنه يجمع بين نفاسة الشيء واستحقاقه للثمن المرتفع، وهو أقرب إلى مقصد المثل العربي: إذا كان الشيء ثمينًا وذا قيمة، فلا تدعه يفوتك بسبب غلاء ثمنه.
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The Arabic proverb "Take it, even if it costs you Maria's earrings" is used to encourage seizing a precious thing or a valuable opportunity, even if it is expensive. Its origin lies in the fact that Maria's earrings were among the most precious and valuable pieces of jewelry, thus becoming a metaphor for something extremely expensive.
The closest equivalents in English are:
"It's worth every penny." ✅ Best equivalent: It's worth every penny paid for.
This is the most common expression indicating that something valuable is worth its price, no matter how high.
"At any cost."
This is similar in meaning to "Don't miss out, even if it's expensive," but more general.
"Pay whatever it takes."
This is a common expression that directly conveys the meaning.
"You get what you pay for."
This suggests that quality is worth the price, but it's not a perfect match for the proverb.
Best equivalent:
"It's worth every penny."
Because it combines the preciousness of the thing with its worthiness of a high price, and it is closer to the meaning of the Arabic proverb: If something is precious and valuable, do not let it slip away from you because of its high price.

He submitted when the spearhead bit him دَرْدَبَ لَمَّا عَضَّهُ الثَّقَافُ.

دَرْدَبَ لَمَّا عَضَّهُ الثَّقَافُ.
يقال: دَرِب بالشيء، ودَرْدَبَ به، إذا اعتاده وضَرِىَ به، ودَرْدَبَ: أي خضع وذلَّ. والثِّقَافُ: خشبة تُسَوَّى بها الرماح. يضرب لمن يمتنع مما يُرَاد منه، ثم يَذِلُّ وينقاد.
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He submitted when the spearhead bit him.
It is said: He became accustomed to something, and he submitted to it, meaning he became used to it and familiar with it. And he submitted, meaning he humbled himself and became submissive. The spearhead is a piece of wood used to straighten spears. This proverb is used to describe someone who initially resists what is asked of him, then eventually submits and yields.
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المثل العربي «دَرْدَبَ لَمَّا عَضَّهُ الثِّقَافُ» يُضرب لمن يمتنع ويُظهر العناد أولًا، ثم يخضع ويذل وينقاد بعد الشدة أو التأديب.
وأقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية هي:
"He came to heel."
«أذعن وانقاد.»
أي خضع بعد تمرد أو مقاومة.
ومن الأمثال والتعابير الأخرى:
"He was brought to his knees."
«أُركع وأُذل.»
أي أُخضع بعد إباء أو كبرياء.
"He finally fell into line."
«أخيرًا التزم الصف وانقاد.»
أي توقف عن المعارضة وامتثل.
"Every knee shall bow."
«كل ركبة ستنحني.»
ويستعمل مجازًا للدلالة على أن المقاومة تنتهي بالخضوع.
أما أقرب مثل إنجليزي مأثور من حيث الفكرة، فهو:
"Spare the rod and spoil the child."
«من يُهمل التأديب يُفسد الولد.»
إذ يفيد أن الشدة أو التقويم تؤدي إلى الانقياد، وإن كان لا يطابق الصورة العربية تمامًا.
ولذلك فإن أقرب مقابل دلالي واستعمالي للمثل العربي هو:
"He was brought to his knees."
أي: امتنع وعاند، ثم ذلَّ وخضع وانقاد بعد الشدة.
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The Arabic proverb “He squirmed when the rod bit him” is used to describe someone who initially resists and shows stubbornness, but then submits, humbles himself, and obeys after hardship or discipline.
The closest English equivalent is:
“He came to heel.”
“He yielded and submitted.”
Meaning, he submitted after rebellion or resistance.
Other proverbs and expressions include:
“He was brought to his knees.”
“He was brought to his knees and humbled.”
Meaning, he was subdued after pride or arrogance.
“He finally fell into line.”
“He finally fell into line and submitted.”
Meaning, he stopped opposing and complied.
“Every knee shall bow.”
“Every knee will bend.”
This is used metaphorically to indicate that resistance ends in submission.
The closest English proverb in terms of concept is:
“Spare the rod and spoil the child.” "He who neglects discipline spoils the child."
This proverb suggests that strictness or correction leads to obedience, though it doesn't perfectly align with the Arabic proverb.
Therefore, the closest semantic and practical equivalent to the Arabic proverb is:
"He was brought to his knees."
That is, he resisted and defied, then humbled himself, submitted, and obeyed after being subjected to strictness.