«مِنْ قِلِّةْ عَقْلِكْ يَا زُهْرَهْ خَلِّيتِي لِكْ فِي الْبَلَدْ شُهْرَهْ»

The proverb is addressed to Zuhra, a woman's name chosen to rhyme with the word for reputation; she stands for any careless person rather than an identified individual. It blames a scandalous name, notoriety rather than fame, on the one who bears it: modest flaws were dragged into the open by careless conduct until the town whispered.

Behind the reproach sits a lesson about restraint. Nobody is free of shortcomings, yet a careful person keeps most of them private; whoever leaves even slight lapses exposed invites rumor that swells past the facts. Though the saying is framed around a woman, its point applies to anyone and implies no judgment about women in general.

Use it to rebuke, or comment on, anyone whose carelessness or indiscretion has turned small faults into public gossip, stressing self-inflicted exposure over the seriousness of the original fault. It is a pointed reproach and can sting when said directly to the person concerned.