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Arabic · Arabic scriptProverb: Verified

«زَيِّ الْفِجْلْ مِتْحَزِّمْ عَ اللَّمَاضَهْ»

Meanings

Each meaning is reviewed on its own.

Meaning: Verified
English translation

Like a radish wrapped in an oversized belt of chatter.

Literal wording

Like the radish, girded with glibness.

Meaning and lesson

The saying targets a person whose whole claim to merit rests on talk. The key word here means a ready facility for abundant speech, words savored in the mouth like a morsel, not wit or cleverness. He speaks at length about his virtues, yet nothing comes of it; empty verbosity stands in for substance.

The comparison comes from radish bunches, which are tied with a broad palm-leaf band far too large for them. The girding is this binding, not clothing or readiness for work. In the same way, this person cinches himself in a showy belt of words that fits nothing of worth.

When it is used

Use it to mock someone who parades his virtues or accomplishments through a stream of talk that delivers nothing. It is pointed and teasing, suited to informal criticism of a braggart or windbag rather than polite conversation.

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