«زَيِّ بُنْدُقِ الْعِيدْ مِزَوَّقْ وِفَارِغْ»

The proverb mocks anything that dazzles outwardly while offering nothing within. Festive nuts, sold dyed or painted for the holiday, are prized for their bright coloring rather than for what lies inside, so a buyer may crack one open and find it hollow. The saying borrows that letdown to describe misleading attractiveness.

Applied to people, it targets someone handsome, elegant, or smooth-talking whose character, intelligence, or worth fails to match the polished surface. It warns listeners not to judge by looks alone and expresses disappointment once the emptiness behind an appealing exterior has been discovered.

Say it of someone or something whose attractive appearance hides a lack of substance, such as a charming but shallow person or a showy product that disappoints. It is critical and can sound insulting if aimed directly at a person, so it suits candid conversation more than polite address.