- English translation
She only got up gently, and down came the gate and the bench with it.
- Literal wording
She rose with lightness, she brought down the big gate and the bench.
- Meaning and lesson
The jibe pictures a woman who meant only to stand up gently, yet the effort was enough to topple the great gate and the bench beside it. The unspoken sting is obvious: if a light rise wreaks such ruin, imagine the damage once she throws her full weight into it.
Though the form is feminine, the target is anyone burdensome in two senses: bulky in body and heavy in spirit, wearisome to be around. The Arabic sharpens the mockery by rhyming khiffa, lightness, with ṣuffa, the bench, setting gentle intent against total wreckage.
- When it is used
Said mockingly about someone heavy in build or tiresome company, especially when a small action of theirs causes outsized disruption. Because it ridicules both body and personality, it can easily insult and suits close banter far better than talk with strangers or anyone sensitive about weight.
- Register
- Colloquial; teasing to scornful
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: She only got up gently, and down came the gate and the bench with it.