«زَيِّ الْخَيْلَه الْكَدَّابَهْ»

The expression describes a person who cannot stay put, constantly drifting off and returning, so that onlookers keep catching sight of a passing figure or shadow flickering in and out of view. The image is this fleeting glimpse, not a horse, despite the word's resemblance to terms for horses. The stress falls on restlessness and repeated motion.

It also carries a judgment of futility: all this coming and going produces nothing worthwhile. The word rendered as 'lying' does not accuse anyone of dishonesty; it marks the glimpse as hollow. The person's busy movement looks purposeful yet yields no result for themselves or anyone else.

Attach it to a remark about someone who keeps roaming here and there, as in saying a person is going around like this; it rarely stands alone. It is a mildly critical or teasing description of aimless, restless behavior observed by others.