- English translation
Bony elbows and a soot-smeared face; one glance at her and your business is ruined.
- Literal wording
The elbow is pointed and the face is smeared with soot, and whoever sees her neither sells nor seeks a livelihood.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying is a harsh insult aimed at a woman, ridiculing her as both wasted and repulsive. Her elbows jut out because no flesh covers them, and her face looks as if it had been rubbed with soot. It should not be read as neutral description.
The final line moves from appearance to misfortune, drawing on belief in the evil omen. Catching sight of her is said to bring such bad luck that the onlooker can neither sell goods nor earn a living. This is deliberate exaggeration, not a literal claim.
- When it is used
The saying is a cruel insult directed at a woman, exaggerating her appearance and portraying a glimpse of her as an omen of failed trade. Its force comes from the harsh combination of ridicule and supposed bad luck.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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