- English translation
The way is wide enough for a camel to get through.
- Literal wording
The lane lets the camel pass through.
- Meaning and lesson
At its plainest, the saying points out how roomy something is. A passage wide enough for a camel to walk through clearly has space to spare, so the image works as a vivid way of calling a place, opening, or object generously broad and far from cramped.
In a related form that names a door instead of a lane, the same picture becomes a pointed hint aimed at someone others would like to see leave. Its implied message is that no obstacle blocks the way out, so the person is free to go, which makes it a sideways and rather blunt form of dismissal.
- When it is used
Say it to remark that a space or thing is roomy. Its pointed use, mainly in the door variant, nudges someone to leave; with the lane wording, context must show which sense is meant. As a veiled dismissal, it can sound rude or cold toward a guest or companion.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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