«إِنْ عَمَلْ وَلَّا مَا عَمَلْ مَتْعُوسْ وِخَايبِ الْأَمَلْ»

The saying describes someone whom others judge unfavorably whatever he does. Meeting expectations brings no credit, while failing to do so merely confirms the criticism already directed at him; it reports hostile social judgment rather than an objective verdict on the person.

It conveys the bitterness of being undervalued by a group whose opinion is fixed in advance. The person’s misfortune lies not only in poor outcomes, but in receiving neither recognition nor goodwill even when doing what is required.

Used of someone facing persistent disfavor within a group, so that effort and compliance earn no approval. It may express sympathy for that person or criticize unfair prejudgment, rather than endorse the group’s dismissive view; applied directly, its strongly negative wording can sound harsh.