«مِنْ شَافِ الْبَابْ وِتَزْوِيقُهْ يِجْرِي عَلِيهْ رِيقُهْ»

The proverb describes how an ornate front, like a decorated doorway, makes the onlooker crave what lies behind it. The watering mouth is an image of strong desire, not literal hunger. Desire is triggered by appearance alone, before anything inside has been seen or tested. In Arabic the saying rhymes (tazwīquh / rīquh).

It is applied to anything that looks fine on the outside while its true inner nature remains unknown. The point is not that the inside must be bad, only that an alluring surface proves nothing about substance, so longing based on looks alone may be premature.

Use it for something whose attractive surface awakens desire while its inner worth stays unknown, such as a handsome house, a polished offer, or a charming stranger. It works as a gentle caution to an eager listener rather than as an outright accusation.