«زَيِّ التَّعَابِينْ كُل مَنْهُو يِجْرِي عَلَى بَطْنُهْ»

The proverb compares people to snakes, which move by sliding along their bellies. In the same way, each person is said to move through life propelled by the belly, meaning the constant effort to secure food and a livelihood.

The humor rests on a double reading: snakes run on their bellies, while an everyday expression describes someone as running for his belly, his daily bread. Keeping only the animal image loses the point; joining the two turns a plain observation about work into a wry remark on universal need.

Suitable when someone remarks that all people, whatever their station, are busy earning their bread. It can soften a complaint about hard work or excuse eager pursuit of income. The snake image describes a shared human condition and does not brand anyone as sly or treacherous.