«زَيِّ النُّوتِي الْغَشِيمْ تُقْلُهْ عَ الْخَشَبْ»

The saying pictures a new, inexperienced boatman, ignorant of the work rather than foolish in general, who contributes nothing to sailing yet still adds his weight to the vessel. His presence does not simply fail to help; it burdens the boat and its crew, turning a supposed helper into dead load.

Applied to people, it targets someone whose involvement goes beyond being useless and becomes harmful. Such a person drains resources, gets in the way, or adds strain, so that the group would be better off had they never joined at all.

Use it to criticize someone who joins a task without the needed skill and, rather than helping, slows or burdens the effort, such as an unqualified new hire. It mocks inexperience rather than general stupidity, yet remains pointed and disparaging, so aim it at the situation carefully.