«فُوتْ عَلَى عَدُوَّكْ مِعَرَّشْ وَلَا تْفُوتْ عَلِيهْ مِكَرَّشْ»

The proverb advises that, when meeting someone who wishes you ill, you should present yourself handsomely clothed rather than merely well fed. A full stomach is invisible to an onlooker, but fine garments are seen at once. An enemy judges you by what shows, so outward dignity counts for more than inner satisfaction.

More broadly, it reflects concern with keeping face before hostile eyes, suggesting resources may be better spent on a respectable appearance than on unseen private comforts. It does not praise going hungry; the point is to deny an adversary any visible sign of weakness, need, or decline that could invite gloating.

Fits situations where someone must face rivals or detractors and is weighing spending on visible appearance against private comfort. It can also wryly comment on people who care more about how they look to opponents than about how they actually live.