«كُتْرِ الدَّلَعْ يِكَرَّهِ الْعَاشِقْ»

Playful coyness can charm a lover, but when it never lets up, the admirer gradually grows weary and his fondness sours into distaste rather than sudden hatred. Whatever once made the beloved appealing becomes the very thing that drives the lover away.

The Arabic term for coquetry also covers pampering, and beyond romance the saying warns against excess in general: even something welcome loses its charm when pushed too far, and moderation keeps goodwill intact where overindulgence wears it out.

Use it when someone keeps testing another person's patience with teasing, sulking, or demands for attention, and as a gentle caution against overdoing something pleasant, such as indulgence or praise, until it becomes tiresome to the person receiving it.