- English translation
He went off to take a leak and then vanished, like the Barabra who set off on sudden trips home without warning.
- Literal wording
He went to urinate and then traveled off, like the Barabra.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying mocks someone who leaves on a small errand close by and then never comes back. The minor task is imagined as having grown into a long journey, so a brief absence becomes an open-ended disappearance, and it is said with teasing or exasperation toward the missing person.
The comparison draws on an ethnic stereotype about the Barabra (Nubians), who were said to depart suddenly for their homeland without prior plans. The proverb applies that supposed habit to someone who leaves on a small errand and does not return. The generalization is part of the historical saying, not a verified fact about Nubians.
- When it is used
Historically used with mockery when someone steps out on a minor errand but fails to return. Its vulgar opening and comparison with the Barabra, or Nubians, make it offensive in many settings. The ethnic reference reflects a stereotype rather than an observation about Nubian people.
- Register
- Colloquial and vulgar; the verb used for urinating is a coarse everyday word
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: He went off to take a leak and then vanished, like the Barabra who set off on sudden trips home without warning.