«كُل رَاسْ مِطَاطِيَّهْ تَحْتَهَا أَلْفْ بَلِيَّهْ»

The saying warns against being taken in by a display of meekness. Someone who keeps their head lowered and seems modest and good-natured may be hiding countless forms of trickery, malice, or harm they could inflict, so outward humility is no proof of a harmless character; the 'thousand' is hyperbole, not a count.

More broadly, it urges caution in judging by appearances. A quiet, deferential surface can conceal calculation, and the person who looks least threatening may be the one to watch most closely.

Use it to caution someone who trusts a person because of their humble, soft-spoken manner, or to comment afterward when a seemingly meek person proves scheming. It carries suspicion and can sound accusatory if aimed directly at someone present.