ProverbHub
Arabic · Arabic scriptProverb: Verified

«طَابْ وَالَّا اتْنِينْ عُورْ»

Meanings

Each meaning is reviewed on its own.

Meaning: Verified
English translation

So, was it a winning throw or a wash?

Literal wording

A ṭāb, or two one-eyed ones?

Meaning and lesson

The image comes from ṭāb, a game played by casting four palm-rib sticks; ṭāb also names its winning throw, three face down and one face up. An even two-and-two split, nicknamed 'two one-eyed ones', brings neither win nor loss. Here ʿūr is game jargon for that split, not a remark about anyone's eyesight.

As a saying, it asks someone who has come back from an errand what the result was. Did the matter succeed, or did it end with nothing either gained or lost?

When it is used

Say it to someone just back from an errand or task they were sent on, to ask whether the matter came out a success or ended with neither gain nor loss.

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