«مِنْ بَرَّا طَق طَق، وِمِنْ جُوَّا فَاشْ وِبَق»

The proverb mocks people who take care of their outward appearance while what lies beneath is dirty and neglected. The repeated 'tak tak' imitates the rustle of crisp new fabric, not a knock. Underneath, close to the body, the person is crawling with fowl lice and bedbugs.

In a wider sense, it describes any polished exterior that hides decay or rot within. The target may be a person, a household, or a reputation. It criticizes showiness that is skin-deep and is not backed by real cleanliness, substance, or integrity.

Use it to mock someone who invests in looking respectable, through fine dress or polished manners, while neglecting what lies beneath. The vermin image is pointed and earthy, so use it with care about real people; it suits teasing among speakers sharing the colloquial idiom, not formal settings.