«زَيِّ وْلَادِ الْحَارَهْ زُمَّارَهْ تِجْمَعْهُمْ وِعَصَايَهْ تْفَرَّقْهُمْ»

The saying likens certain adults to the small children of a residential lane or quarter. Such children come running when someone plays a simple folk reed pipe and flee the moment someone waves a stick. The image mocks people who are easily drawn by trifles and just as easily driven off.

The criticism, aimed at adults rather than describing children neutrally, has two sides: shallow judgment, since a trivial novelty is enough to assemble them, and timidity, since a minor threat breaks them apart. It suggests that such a group has no firm purpose or loyalty holding it together.

Use it as a disparaging remark about a crowd or group that gathers eagerly around a trivial attraction and then scatters at the first small threat, showing neither sense nor steadfastness. Because it belittles its targets, it can insult a person or group and suits critical commentary, not polite conversation.