# The best-known Egyptian folk proverbs and what they mean

From "Whoever lives in a glass house shouldn't throw stones" to "In his mother's eyes the monkey is a gazelle" and "The gosling is a swimmer": Egyptian sayings people use every day, with a literal translation and their meaning.

- 5 votes · 15 items
- Nov 5, 2021 · يوسف التازي
- https://even.best/en/l/5340/the-best-known-egyptian-folk-proverbs-and-what-they-mean

## Top 15

1. **"The door the wind comes through: shut it and rest"** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — Cut off whatever brings you trouble.
2. **"Whoever lives in a glass house shouldn't throw stones at people"** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Don't criticise others for faults you have yourself.
3. **"The one you take for Moses turns out to be Pharaoh"** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — People who seem good can turn out to be bad.
4. **"The white piaster is useful on the black day"** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Save in good times for hard times.
5. **"Whoever got burned by the soup blows on the yoghurt"** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Once bitten, twice shy.
6. **"In his mother's eyes, the monkey is a gazelle"** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Every mother thinks her child is the most beautiful.
7. **"The gosling is a swimmer"** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Like father, like son.
8. **"The walls have ears"** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Be careful what you say: someone may be listening.
9. **"Far from the eye, far from the heart"** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Out of sight, out of mind.
10. **"The neighbour before the house"** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Choose your neighbours before you choose your home.
11. **"Give the bread to its baker, even if he eats half of it"** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Leave a job to the expert, even if it costs you more.
12. **"Learning when young is like carving in stone"** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — What you learn as a child stays with you for life.
13. **"Whoever has a bump on his head keeps touching it"** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — A guilty conscience gives itself away.
14. **"What's gone is dead"** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Let bygones be bygones.
15. **"The last grape of the bunch is candied sugar"** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — The youngest child is the family's darling.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.