- English translation
With no family to turn to, he got himself horses instead.
- Literal wording
He did not find himself a family, so he brought himself horses.
- Meaning and lesson
The proverb pictures a man with no family to keep him company who acquires horses and keeps himself occupied with them. The animals give him something to do, but they cannot offer the closeness and belonging that kin provide.
More broadly, the saying describes anyone who tries to make up for an absence by taking on something that cannot truly replace it. Its point is that the stand-in falls short of what was lost or lacking.
- When it is used
Use it, usually with gentle irony, when someone fills an emotional or practical gap with a poor substitute, such as busying themselves with possessions or hobbies in place of companionship. It is not praise for resourcefulness, and fits remarks about another person's choice rather than formal occasions.
- Register
- Colloquial Arabic
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: With no family to turn to, he got himself horses instead.