- English translation
Are you a prophet, or are you a locksmith?
- Literal wording
Are you a prophet or a maker of locks?
- Meaning and lesson
This saying rebukes a person for stepping into an affair that does not belong to them. Its sharp contrast between two different occupations underscores the impropriety of inserting oneself into another person’s work.
It may be said when someone blurs the boundaries between separate tasks or takes part in work outside their own sphere. The rhetorical question conveys criticism of that interference and confusion of roles.
- When it is used
Use it to challenge someone who intrudes into another person’s task or confuses distinct responsibilities. Because the wording is pointed and sarcastic, it fits rebuke or teasing more readily than a calm, formal discussion.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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