«اِمْشِي عَلَى عَدُوَّكْ جَعَانْ وَلَا تِمْشِي عَلِيهْ عِرْيَانْ»

The proverb advises keeping one’s condition hidden from an enemy. It contrasts enduring hunger with appearing naked before a hostile person, because the latter would reveal something the enemy could see.

Its warning concerns the reaction of an adversary: do not give an enemy a view of your state that may prompt gloating. The saying therefore favors concealment over displaying one’s condition to someone unfriendly.

Used to advise discretion around an adversary or hostile person, especially when revealing one’s condition could invite gloating. It stresses enduring a hardship privately rather than letting an enemy see it.