• بْيتْخفى بِخْيال إصْبْعه (AF 206)

He hides himself in the shadow of his finger.

– تخَفّى، يتخَفّى  = to hide oneself

– خِفي، يخْفى  = to be concealed, hidden

– خيال  = shadow

 

• بوِجين ولْسانين (AF 201)

 

(A man) of two faces and two tongues.

 

• بوس الكلب بْتِمُه لَتْنال أَرَبَك منه (AF 201)

 

(If necessary) Kiss a dog on its mouth in order that you may get what you desire of him.

– باس، يبوس  = to kiss

– بوسة  = kiss

– تُمّ / تِمّ ج تمَام  = Fuṣḥā فم  (mouth)

 

• بيحرُق حارة تَ يْولّع سيكارة (AF 207)

 

He burns a building to light a cigarette.

–  حَرَق، يحرُق  = to burn, set on fire

– حارة  = alley, neighborhood

– ولّع، يولّع  = to catch fire, to ignite; to set on fire, set ablaze

 

• بيحلِب النملة (AF 208)

 

He milks the ant.

– حَلَب، يِحلِب  = to milk

– حليب  = milk

– محلبية / مهلبية  = Blancmange

 

• بير الي بتشرب منه لا ترمي فيه حَجَر (AF 209)

 

The well from which you drink throw no stone into it.

– بير  = Fuṣḥā بئر

 

• بيطْعَم الجوز لل ما عنده سنان (AF 212)

 

(God) sends walnuts to him who has no teeth.

– سِنّ، ج سْنان  = Fuṣḥā سِنّ، ج أَسْنَاْن

– لل  = Fuṣḥā لمن

 

• جِحا أكبر ولا أبوه؟ (AF 239)

 

 

Is Jiha older or his father?

(Said to someone who asks a stupid question)

– جِحا  = Juha (or Nasreddin in Turkish), character of Middle Eastern anecdotes and jokes. For more information see here

 

• الجاهل بيتعلم من كيسه، والعاقل من كيس غيره (AF 237)

 

The ignorant person learns at his own expense; the wise learns at the expense of others.

 

• جُرْح الكلام أصعب من جُرْح السهام (AF 241)

 

A wound caused by words is more painful than a wound caused by an arrow.

– سَهِم، ج سِهَام / أسهُم  = arrow

 

• جِن تِسْعَد (AF 244)

 

Become a fool and you will be happy.

– جَنّ، يجِنّ  = to become crazy, to lose one’s mind 

– مجنون ج مجانين  = crazy person, madman; crazy, insane

– جْنُوْن  = madness

– جنّن، يجنّن  = to drive someone crazy

– جِنّ  = jinn

– سِعِد، يسعَد  = to become happy, to rejoice

– سعيد ج سعدا  = happy

– سَعادة  = happiness

 

• جَور القِط ولا عدل الفار (AF 247)

 

The oppression of the cat rather than the justice of the mouse.

– جَوْر  = injustice, oppression, tyranny

 

• حَدا بيشتري سمك ببحر؟ (AF 260)

 

Does anyone buy fish while it is still in the sea?

– حَدا  =  Fuṣḥā أحد 

 

• الحيط الواطي بتركبه كل الناس (AF 281)

 

Everybody jumps over a low wall.

– حَيْطَ ج حِيْطان  = wall 

– مُحيط ج مُحيطات  = surrondings; ocean

– واطي  = low; inferior

 – وطّى، يوَطّي  = to lower sth.

 

• الحب ستار العيوب (AF 254)

 

Love blinds itself to all shortcomings.

 

• حِب الصدق ولو ضرّك وأُبغُض الكِذْب ولو سرّك (AF 254)

 

Love the truth though it may do you harm; hate the lie though it may please you.

– ضَرّ، يضُرّ  = to harm, to injure

– ضَرَر ج أَضرار  = damage

– مُضِرّ  = harmful

– ضَرُوْري  = necessary

– ضَرَّة  = second wife, co-wife

– بغض، يبغُض  = to hate, despise

– بُغْض  = hatred

– كِذْب  = lie

– كَذَب، يكذِب  = to lie

– كَذَّب، يْكَذِّب  = to accuse s.o. of lying; to denounce, contradict

– كَذَّاب  = liar

– سَرّ، يسُرّ  = to make happy, to gladden

– مَسرور  = happy

– سُرور  = happiness, gladness

– بِكُلّ سُرور  = happily, with pleasure

 

• إلداخل بالسياسة متل الداخل بتَنَكة الكناسة (AF 298)

 

He who takes to politics is like someone trying to get into the garbage can.

– متل  = Fuṣḥā مثل

– تَنَكة، ج تَنكات  = tin, can

– كناسة  = garbage, rubbish

– كَنَّس، يْكَنِّس  = to sweep

– مكنسة  = broom

 

Source:

AF = Anis Frayha. Modern Lebanese Proverbs; Collected at Ras Al-matn. American Uninversity of Beirut, Beirut (1953)