«زَيِّ الطَّوَاحِينْ إِنْ بَطَّلِتْ تِلْحَسْهُمِ الْكِلَابْ»

The picture is of mills that have stopped grinding. Flour is still stuck to them, so dogs gather and lick them over at will. The proverb uses this scene to show how something once busy and productive becomes an easy target as soon as its work comes to a halt.

Applied to people, it describes someone who loses respect the moment they are dismissed or stop working. Those who once kept their distance, even the lowliest, now treat the person with disdain or take liberties. The saying observes that much deference depends on active position rather than personal worth.

Use it about someone removed from office or no longer working who is now slighted by people who once kept a respectful distance. It suits rueful or critical remarks, but said to a recently dismissed or retired person it can sound mocking rather than sympathetic.