- English translation
Get the master builder working beside you, even if he eats up your whole lunch.
- Literal wording
Employ the qirārī with you, even if he eats all of your lunch.
- Meaning and lesson
When you take on serious work such as building your own house, bring in a properly trained, skilled builder rather than a mere helper, even if feeding and paying him seems to eat up all you have. The lunch stands for that whole cost, and his skill makes it worthwhile.
More broadly, the saying advises handing each task to those who truly know it. Expertise may look costly, but sound results repay the outlay.
- When it is used
Fits situations where someone is tempted to handle a skilled task alone to save money. Use it to urge involving a trained expert, especially in building or similar crafts, and to argue that quality workmanship justifies the specialist's keep and pay.
- Register
- colloquial
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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