Explore Arabic traditional proverbsReviewed 2026-09-27
Sense: Verified- English translation
The captain’s son adds nothing to the voyage but extra weight and another mouth to feed.
- Literal wording
The boat captain’s son is a weight on the boat and a drain on the bread.
- Meaning and lesson
Someone who trades on a parent’s position while doing no useful work becomes a burden on the group.
- When it is used
A pointed criticism of a person who receives a place or provisions because of family standing but does not help with the work.
- Register
- Colloquial and derisive
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: The captain’s son adds nothing to the voyage but extra weight and another mouth to feed.