Explore Arabic traditional proverbsReviewed 2026-10-02
Sense: Verified- English translation
My dear bracelet, you are precious to me—but this arm comes first.
- Literal wording
I love you, my bracelet, as much as my forearm? No.
- Meaning and lesson
The speaker values the bracelet but refuses to place it on the same level as the arm that wears it. The closing refusal turns a seeming declaration of equal affection into a ranking.
The image suggests that affection has degrees. Someone may cherish a person or possession while still giving greater weight to their own needs and well-being.
- When it is used
The proverb can frame a choice between keeping a valued attachment and protecting one’s own interests. It allows someone to acknowledge affection while making clear that the attachment does not take priority over self-preservation.
- Register
- Colloquial Arabic
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: My dear bracelet, you are precious to me—but this arm comes first.