ProverbHub
Arabic · Arabic scriptProverb: Verified

«اِللِّي مَا مَعُوشْ مَا يِلْزَمُوشْ»

Meanings

Each meaning is reviewed on its own.

Meaning: Verified
English translation

No one can be expected to supply what they do not possess.

Literal wording

Whoever does not have what is needed is not obliged to provide it.

Meaning and lesson

The saying rejects a demand placed on someone who lacks the money, goods, ability, or other means needed to meet it. It treats the absence of necessary resources as a limit on what that person can be required to do.

It can be said in defense of a person who cannot contribute, pay, or furnish something requested. It emphasizes that responsibility to provide depends on having the thing or means required in the first place.

When it is used

Use it when explaining why a person cannot be held responsible for providing something unavailable to them. It suits situations involving payment, contributions, supplies, or another requested resource that the person does not have.

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