Friday, June 19, 2026
Worse than a cheated person. أخْسَرُ مِنَ مَغْبُونٍ.
مثل مُوَلَّد، ويقولون في مثل آخر: في اسْتِ المَغْبُونِ عُود.
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Worse than a cheated person.
A proverb, and they say in another proverb: "There's a stick in the cheated person's backside."
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المثل العربي «أَخْسَرُ مِنَ المَغْبُونِ» يُضرب لمن بلغ الغاية في الخسارة وسوء الصفقة، فـ«المغبون» هو من خُدع في بيع أو شراء أو فاتته المصلحة، فجاء المثل للمبالغة: لا أحد أخسر من المغبون.
ومن أقرب المقابلات في الثقافة الإنجليزية: A fool and his money are soon parted.
«الأحمق وماله سرعان ما يفترقان.»
وهو أشهر مثل يضرب لمن يخسر بسبب سوء تقديره أو انخداعه.
To get the short end of the stick.
«يحصل على الطرف القصير من العصا.»
أي يقع في صفقة أو موقف خاسر.
To be taken to the cleaners.
«يُسلب كل ما لديه.»
أي يُخدع أو يُستغل حتى يخسر كثيرًا.
To make a bad bargain.
«يعقد صفقة خاسرة.»
To come off worst.
«يخرج بأسوأ نتيجة.»
وأقرب مقابل للمثل العربي من حيث الخسارة الناتجة عن الغبن والخداع هو:
A fool and his money are soon parted.
أما إذا كان المقصود مجرد سوء الحظ والخروج بأسوأ نصيب، فأقربه:
He got the short end of the stick.
وأما المثل الآخر «في است المغبون عود» فهو مثل عامي مولد يُقال على سبيل السخرية، ومعناه أن المصاب بالغبن لا يكتفي بخسارته بل يُزاد عليها الأذى والإهانة، ويقابله في الإنجليزية معنى:
Adding insult to injury.
«إضافة الإهانة إلى الإصابة.»
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The Arabic proverb "More of a loser than the deceived" is used to describe someone who has suffered the ultimate loss and a bad deal. The "deceived" person is someone who has been tricked in a sale or purchase, or who has missed out on a benefit. The proverb is used for emphasis: no one is more of a loser than the deceived.
A similar proverb in English is:
"A fool and his money are soon parted."
This is a well-known proverb used to describe someone who loses due to misjudgment or being deceived.
"To get the short end of the stick."
This means to fall into a losing deal or situation.
"To be taken to the cleaners."
This means to be deceived or exploited to the point of significant loss.
"To make a bad bargain."
"To come off the worst."
"To come off with the worst possible outcome." The closest equivalent to the Arabic proverb, in terms of loss resulting from deception and fraud, is:
"A fool and his money are soon parted."
However, if the intended meaning is simply bad luck and getting the worst possible outcome, the closest equivalent is:
"He got the short end of the stick."
As for the other proverb, "In the back of the wronged one there's a stick," it is a colloquial expression used ironically. It means that the one who has been wronged not only suffers a loss but also adds insult and humiliation. Its equivalent in English is:
"Adding insult to injury."
"Adding insult to injury."
Saturday, June 13, 2026
Leave aside the plunder that was shouted about in its chambers دَعْ عَنْكَ نَهْباً صِيحَ فِي حَجَرَاتِهِ.
النهب: المالُ المنهوب، وكذلك النُّهْبَى والحَجَرَاتُ: النواحي.
يضرب لمن ذهب من ماله شيء ثم ذهب بعده ما هو أجَلُّ منه.
وهذا من بيت امرئ القيس، قاله حين نزل على خالد بن سَدُوس بن أصمع النَّبْهَاني، فأغار عليه باعث بن حويص وذهب بإبله، فقال له جاره خالد: أعطني صنائعَكَ ورواحلك حتى أطلب عليها مالَكَ ففعل، فانطوى عليها، ويقال: بل لَحِقَ القومَ، فقال لهم: أغرتم على جاري يا بني [ص: 268] جَديلة، فقالوا: والله ما هو لك بجار، قال: بلى والله ما هذه الإبل التي معكم إلا كالرواحل التي تحتي؟ قالوا كذلك، فأنزلوه وذهبوا بها، فقال امرؤ القيس فيما هجاه به
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Leave aside the plunder that was shouted about in its chambers.
Plunder: the stolen wealth, and likewise, the plundered and the chambers: the surrounding areas.
This is said of someone who lost something of his wealth, and then lost something even more valuable.
This is from a verse by Imru' al-Qays, which he recited when he stayed with Khalid ibn Sadus ibn Asma' al-Nabhani. Ba'ith ibn Huways raided him and stole his camels. His neighbor Khalid said to him, "Give me your camels and mounts so I can seek your money with them." So he did, and he kept them. It is also said that he caught up with the raiders and said to them, "You raided my neighbor, O sons of Jadila!" They replied, "By God, he is not your neighbor." He said, "Yes, by God, these camels you have are no different from the mounts I have!" They said so, and they made him dismount and took them away. Imru' al-Qays then said, in his satire against him
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أقرب مقابل لهذا المثل في الثقافة الإنجليزية ليس حرفيًا، بل من حيث المعنى، هو:
"Forget the small loss; a greater one has followed."
دع الخسارة الصغيرة، فقد لحقتها خسارة أكبر.
ومن الأمثال والتعابير الإنجليزية الأقرب إليه:
"Out of the frying pan and into the fire."
«خرج من المقلاة ليقع في النار.»
يقال لمن يهرب من مصيبة أو خسارة ليقع في ما هو أشد منها، وهو أقرب المقابلات من حيث القصة التي رافقت بيت امرئ القيس.
"Adding insult to injury."
«زيادة الإهانة على الجرح.»
أي أن الضرر الأول لم يكتفِ، بل تلاه ضرر أشد أو خيبة أخرى.
"One misfortune comes on the heels of another."
«تتبع المصائب بعضها بعضًا.»
ويستعمل عندما تعقب خسارةٌ خسارةً أخرى.
أما البيت الذي ورد فيه المثل:
دَعْ عَنْكَ نَهْبًا صِيحَ فِي حَجَرَاتِهِ
وَلَكِنْ حَدِيثًا مَا حَدِيثُ الرَّوَاحِلِ
فمعناه: انسَ الإبل التي نُهِبت أولًا، فالأمر الأشد والأجدر بالذكر هو ضياع الرواحل التي كانت وسيلة استردادها.
ولذلك فإن أنسب مقابل إنجليزي من ناحية الدلالة والموقف هو:
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
لأنه يصور الانتقال من خسارة أو مأزق إلى ما هو أعظم منه.
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The closest equivalent to this proverb in English culture, not literally but semantically, is:
"Forget the small loss; a greater one has followed."
Other English proverbs and expressions that are close to it include:
"Out of the frying pan and into the fire."
This is said of someone who escapes one misfortune or loss only to fall into something worse. It is the closest equivalent in terms of the story that accompanied Imru' al-Qays's verse.
"Adding insult to injury."
This means that the first harm was not enough; it was followed by a greater harm or another disappointment.
"One misfortune comes on the heels of another."
This is used when one loss follows another. As for the verse in which the proverb appears:
"Forget the plunder that was shouted from its chambers, but rather, what is the story of the camels?"
Its meaning is: Forget the camels that were plundered first, for the more serious and noteworthy matter is the loss of the camels that were the means of recovering them.
Therefore, the most appropriate English equivalent, in terms of meaning and situation, is:
"Out of the frying pan and into the fire."
Because it depicts the transition from a loss or predicament to something even greater.
Friday, May 15, 2026
If he complains, add to his burden.-إن ضج فزده وقراً
It is also said, if he drags his feet, add to his weight. This originated with camels, then became a proverb, because a man may undertake a task but not manage it; rather, he becomes weary of it and asks for it to be lightened, only to be given more. As it is said, "Adding more burdens brings you closer to achieving your goal." And similar to this...
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The closest English equivalents are:
Adding insult to injury
“To make matters worse.”
This is the closest and most common.
To add fuel to the fire
“To make the fire burn even brighter.”
Pile more on his shoulders
“To increase the burden on his shoulders.”
Kick a man when he’s down
“To strike a man when he’s down.”
This is used when the intention is to be harsh on the weak or tired.
The closest expression that captures the spirit of the proverb is:
If he complains about the load, give him more to carry.
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ويروى، أن جرجر فزده ثقلاً، أصل هذا في الإبل، ثم صار مثلاً، لأن تكلف الرجل الحاجة فلا يضبطها، بل يضجر منها فيطلب أن تخفف عنه، فتزيده أخرى، كما يقال: زيادة الأبرام تدنيك من نيل المرام. ومثله
مميزة
Dirhams are ointments الدراهم مراهم
الدراهم مراهم Dirhams are ointments --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- «الدراهم مراهم» ...