Explore Arabic traditional proverbsReviewed 2026-10-23
Meaning: Verified- English translation
A liar has to keep track of what they have said.
- Literal wording
If you are a liar, remember.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying warns that a false account can be difficult to sustain. A person who invents details may fail to remember them later, creating a conflict with an earlier version of the story.
Its force lies in linking deception with the burden of recalling what was invented. Forgetting a fabricated claim can expose a discrepancy, whereas truthful speech does not require maintaining an invented account.
- When it is used
Used to express the idea that lying demands careful recall, since invented details may later conflict with an earlier account.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: A liar has to keep track of what they have said.