«اِلزُّبُونِ الزِّفْتْ يَا يْبَدَّرْ يَا يْوَخَّرْ»

The image is a poor, clueless shopper who never arrives at the right moment. Calling him 'tar' is an insult meaning worthless or wretched, not a literal reference to pitch. Either he shows up before the shop has opened or set out its wares, or he comes so late that the choicest goods are gone.

Applied more widely, it faults anyone who fails to handle matters at their proper time. The two outcomes are alternatives: he errs one way or the other. The problem is mistiming, not lack of effort: rushing ahead and lagging behind both leave the person empty-handed.

Apply it to someone who habitually mistimes things, acting before conditions are ready or after the opportunity has passed, such as a colleague submitting work before requirements settle or after deadlines lapse.