40 Arabic idioms (Meaning + Examples + Other Ways to say)

I write 40 arabic idiomatic phrases with Meaning, Examples and other ways to say. Short or long i Coverd idiomatic expressions examples for you and give at the end Arabic and mexico idioms.

List Of 40 Arabic Idioms

• العقل زينة
• الحركة بركة
• التكرار يعلّم الحمار
• على قد لحافك مد رجليك
• على عيني وراسي
• ديل الكلب عمره ما يتعدل
• الطيور على أشكالها تقع
• القرد بعين أمه غزال
• يا جبل ما يهزك ريح
• اللي ما يعرف الصقر يشويه
• الزائد أخو الناقص
• طنجرة ولقت غطاها
• يا ماخذ القرد على ماله بيروح المال وبيضل القرد على حاله
• مثل الأطرش في الزفة
• طار عقله
• شايف نفسه
• بالع راديو
• طلع عيني
• تحت أمرك
• لقمة عيش
• يد واحدة لا تصفق
• حبل الكذب قصير
• للحيطان آذان
• طفح الكيل
• لا يلدغ المؤمن من جحر مرتين
• دمه ثقيل
• دمه خفيف
• طويل لسان
• على حسابي
• الباب يفوت جمل
• تجري الرياح بما لا تشتهي السفن
• لا تؤجل عمل اليوم إلى الغد
• الثروة تأتي كالسلحفاة وتذهب كالغزال
• تجوع الحرة ولا تأكل بثدييها
• تعاشروا كالإخوان وتعاملوا كالأغراب
• كل تأخيرة وفيها خيرة
• في العجلة الندامة
• اللي يتلسع من الشربة ينفخ في الزبادي
• العوض ولا القطيعة
• اللي إيده في المية مش زي اللي إيده في النار

What are the Arabic idioms ?

The Arabic idioms below show how elders pack life lessons into short lines that stick in the mind.
Each one has meaning, a plain example, and close ways to say it in English, pure

العقل زينة (Al-‘aql zīnah)

meaning – A good mind and manners are the real “beauty.”
example – He bought fancy clothes, then forgot common sense, so I told him: العقل زينة.
other ways to say – good sense, sound judgment, a wise head

الحركة بركة (Al-ḥaraka barakah)

meaning – Action brings results; sitting still brings zero.
example – I stopped waiting for “perfect timing” and started, and things moved.
other ways to say – take action, get moving, start now

التكرار يعلّم الحمار (At-tikrār yu‘allim al-ḥimār)

meaning – Repetition makes skill, even for the stubborn.
example – I practiced the same line 50 times, then it finally clicked.
other ways to say – practice makes perfect, drill it, keep at it

على قد لحافك مد رجليك (‘Alā qad liḥāfak mudd rijlēk)

meaning – Spend within your means.
example – He wanted a luxury phone on a tiny salary, so I reminded him.
other ways to say – live within your means, cut your cloth, stay on budget

على عيني وراسي (‘Alā ‘aynī w-rāsī)

meaning – Gladly, with respect; “with pleasure.”
example – “Can you help my dad?” “على عيني وراسي.”
other ways to say – gladly, with honor, my pleasure

ديل الكلب عمره ما يتعدل (Dēl el-kalb ‘umruh mā yit‘addal)

meaning – Some habits never change.
example – He promised to stop lying, then lied before lunch.
other ways to say – old habits die hard, same old story, never learns

الطيور على أشكالها تقع (Aṭ-ṭuyūr ‘alā ashkāliha taqa‘)

meaning – People gather with people like them.
example – All the loud jokers became friends in one day.
other ways to say – birds of a feather, same crowd, like attracts like

القرد بعين أمه غزال (Al-qird bi‘ayn ummuh ghazāl)

meaning – A mother sees her child as perfect.
example – His mom called his “singing” art. The neighbors called it noise.
other ways to say – love is blind, mother’s pride, biased affection

يا جبل ما يهزك ريح (Yā jabal mā yihizzak rīḥ)

meaning – Stay steady; small problems should not shake you.
example – One rude comment online, and he wanted to quit, so I said it.
other ways to say – stay strong, stand firm, keep steady

اللي ما يعرف الصقر يشويه (Illī mā yi‘raf aṣ-ṣaqr yishwīh)

meaning – If you do not know value, you ruin it.
example – He sold a rare coin for pocket change, then cried later.
other ways to say – know what you have, respect value, don’t waste treasure

الزائد أخو الناقص (Az-zāyid akhū an-nāqiṣ)

meaning – Too much is as bad as too little.
example – He studied 18 hours, slept 2, then failed from exhaustion.
other ways to say – moderation, not too much, balance matters

طنجرة ولقت غطاها (Ṭanjara wil’it ghiṭāha)

meaning – Two people match perfectly.
example – They both love old songs and hate noise, so it fit.
other ways to say – a perfect match, two of a kind, found their pair

يا ماخذ القرد على ماله بيروح المال وبيضل القرد على حاله

meaning – If you choose someone for money, money may vanish and you stay stuck.
example – He married for cash, then the business died, and reality started laughing.
other ways to say – don’t marry for money, choose character, value matters

مثل الأطرش في الزفة (Mithl al-aṭrash fī az-zaffa)

meaning – Clueless and out of place.
example – I joined the meeting late and had no idea what they fought about.
other ways to say – lost, out of the loop, clueless

طار عقله (Ṭār ‘aqluh)

meaning – He lost his mind from shock or stress.
example – When he saw the bill, طار عقله.
other ways to say – went crazy, lost it, mind blown

شايف نفسه (Shāyif nafsuh)

meaning – Full of self-importance.
example – He talked like a king, while his work said “intern.”
other ways to say – big-headed, full of himself, arrogant

بالع راديو (Bāli‘ rādyō)

meaning – Talks nonstop; a chatterbox.
example – Ask him for the time and you get a life story, then a weather report.
other ways to say – chatterbox, nonstop talker, talks your ear off

طلع عيني (Ṭalla‘ ‘aynī)

meaning – He gave me a hard time; drained me.
example – That paperwork طلع عيني for three days.
other ways to say – wore me out, pushed me hard, exhausted me

تحت أمرك (Taḥt amrak)

meaning – At your service.
example – “Can you check this?” “تحت أمرك.”
other ways to say – at your service, ready to help, yes sir

لقمة عيش (Luqmat ‘ēsh)

meaning – Livelihood; honest daily income.
example – He works two jobs for لقمة عيش, not for show.
other ways to say – livelihood, daily bread, bread and butter, honest wage, pure

What are the pure Arabic idioms?

The five lines below lean toward formal Arabic and show up in writing, sermons, and old talk at home.
Each idiom stays in Arabic script, with meaning and a clean example, short

يد واحدة لا تصفق

meaning – One hand does not clap; teamwork matters.
example – I tried to run the event alone, then learned this the hard way.
other ways to say – teamwork, shared effort, many hands, cooperation

حبل الكذب قصير

meaning – Lies get exposed fast.
example – He lied twice, then screenshots ended the debate.
other ways to say – lies don’t last, truth comes out, caught out

للحيطان آذان

meaning – Walls have ears; speak with care.
example – He gossiped in public, then acted surprised when it spread.
other ways to say – be careful what you say, watch your mouth, keep it quiet

طفح الكيل

meaning – Enough is enough; patience ran out.
example – After the third broken promise, طفح الكيل.
other ways to say – I’ve had enough, limit reached, fed up

لا يلدغ المؤمن من جحر مرتين

meaning – A wise person learns and avoids the same trap twice.
example – I fell for that scam once; next time I walked away.
other ways to say – once bitten twice shy, learn the lesson, don’t repeat, short

What are the Short Arabic idioms ?

Short Arabic idioms hit fast and work well in daily talk and quick replies.
Here are five short ones with clear meaning, long

دمه ثقيل

meaning – Dull, awkward, not funny.
example – He tells jokes and the room stays silent, so people say it.
other ways to say – no sense of humor, awkward vibe, heavy presence

دمه خفيف

meaning – Light, funny, easy to be around.
example – Even traffic felt less painful when he joked the whole ride.
other ways to say – funny, easygoing, good company

طويل لسان

meaning – Sharp-tongued; rude in speech.
example – He insulted the waiter, then acted shocked at the reaction.
other ways to say – mouthy, rude talker, sharp tongue

على حسابي

meaning – I’m paying.
example – “Don’t reach for your wallet, dinner على حسابي.”
other ways to say – my treat, I’ve got it, I’ll pay

الباب يفوت جمل

meaning – No one is above rules; the door is wide enough for removal.
example – He broke house rules, so his uncle reminded him of this line.
other ways to say – rules apply to all, no special treatment, out you go, long

What are the long Arabic idioms ?

Long Arabic idioms sound like mini-stories, the kind grandparents say, then sip tea like judges.
Five long ones follow with meaning and use, Mexico

تجري الرياح بما لا تشتهي السفن

meaning – Events go against your plans.
example – I planned a calm day, then problems lined up at my door.
other ways to say – plans changed, not as planned, life had other ideas

لا تؤجل عمل اليوم إلى الغد

meaning – Do today’s work today.
example – I delayed studying, then exam day came like a hammer.
other ways to say – don’t procrastinate, do it today, act now

الثروة تأتي كالسلحفاة وتذهب كالغزال

meaning – Money comes slow, leaves fast.
example – He saved for years, then spent it in one wedding week.
other ways to say – save money, spend with care, easy come easy go

تجوع الحرة ولا تأكل بثدييها

meaning – Dignity first, even in need.
example – She refused shady help and chose honest work instead.
other ways to say – keep dignity, self-respect, honor first

تعاشروا كالإخوان وتعاملوا كالأغراب

meaning – Be warm as family, yet fair and clear in business.
example – We stayed friends, yet wrote the terms on paper to avoid fights.
other ways to say – clear boundaries, fair dealing, trust with rules, Mexico

What are The Arabic & mexican idioms?

Arabic and Mexican sayings often meet at the same lesson: patience, caution, and making do.
Each pair shows the Arabic line, then a Mexican saying with the same punch, roots

كل تأخيرة وفيها خيرة + No hay mal que por bien no venga

meaning – A delay or setback may carry hidden good.
example – I missed the first job, then landed a better one a month later.
other ways to say – every cloud has a bright edge, something good will follow, silver lining

في العجلة الندامة + No por mucho madrugar, amanece más temprano

meaning – Rushing brings regret; time has its pace.
example – He rushed the repair, broke it worse, then paid twice.
other ways to say – slow down, don’t rush, patience pays

اللي يتلسع من الشربة ينفخ في الزبادي + El que se quemó con leche, hasta al jocoque le sopla

meaning – A bad lesson makes you extra careful next time.
example – He got scammed once, now he checks every link like a detective.
other ways to say – once bitten twice shy, learned the hard way, cautious now

العوض ولا القطيعة + A falta de pan, tortillas

meaning – Take what you can get; something beats nothing.
example – The store ran out of bread, so we used tortillas and moved on.
other ways to say – make do, better than nothing, take the substitute

اللي إيده في المية مش زي اللي إيده في النار + Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho

meaning – Talking is easy from the outside; doing is harder in real heat.
example – He gave big advice, but he never faced the same problem for one day.
other ways to say – easier said than done, walk in my shoes, real-life pressure, roots