You can describe your entire day with Arabic hair sayings alone. Trust us on this.
We care about hair. Maybe it's because our locks' thickness turn a good hairdo into a major accomplishment. Maybe it's because luscious Arab hair is a living thing unto itself, serving as a muse for poetry, for proverbs and for funny turns of phrase.
Either way, the writing is in the hair. Just look at these 13 hair sayings:
1. You showed him who's boss: "I tamed the lice on his head"
Rabaytelo el amal b rasso: [ربيتلو القمل براسو]
When you want to teach someone a lesson, but you did it so intricately and effectively that even the "lice on his head" learned to behave.
2. The buzzkill: "We got the bald man to lighten up the mood. He revealed his bald spot and scared us off."
"Jibna el a'ara' lay wanesna, kashaf an ara'to w khawafna": [جبنا الأقرع ليونسنا، كشّف عن قرعتو وخوّفنا]
When you need consolation and someone comes to your rescue, but only makes you feel worse.
3. Respect your elders: "Grey hair is a mark of status"
"Al shaybe haybe": [الشيبة هيبة]
Doesn't matter if their hair's greyed prematurely. Grey hair means you've joined the ranks of the elders of the tribe.
4. Appreciate what you get, no matter what: "The hair from the skin of a pig is still a benefit"
"Sha'ra min jeled el khanzeer faa'eda": [شعرة من جلد الخنزير فائدة]
A wisp of hair from a creature that is typically hairless, a pig, is something that ought to be appreciated. It applies to situations where you're being offered help from a stingy person. This piece of folkloric wisdom says: just take it and be grateful.
5. A shocking situation: "My hair's gone white"
"Shaab rassi": [شاب راسي]
You say this to dramatize the effect a very stressful situation had on you.
6. The midlife crisis: "After his hair grayed, he went back to school"
"Ba'ad ma shab, wadduh el ketab": [بعد ما شاب ودوه الكتّاب]
When someone's hair has greyed (i.e reached mid-life) and tries to do something that's more suited to young people, like going back to school, or worse, driving a Ferrari.
7. The insecure person: "The bald woman brags about her niece's hair"
"Al ar'aa bititbaha b sha'er bint okhtaha": [القرعة بتتباهى بشعر بنت اختها]
When someone brags about another person's accomplishments to compensate for their own shortcomings.
8. Dealing with a person who flakes: "My hair went white while I waited for you"
"Shab sha'ri w ana am bestanak": [شاب شعري وأنا عم استناك]
You can use this the next time you deal with a friend who's "stuck in a traffic jam" on a holiday.
9. The person who just won't get it: "Hair grew on my tongue"
"Tole' el sha'er ala elsani": [طلع الشعر على لساني]
When you explain the same thing over and over again, but the idea simply doesn't get through. Your tongue gives up because it realizes it's a hairy situation, so to speak!
10. Hairbumps instead of goosebumps: "My body hair stood on end"
"Ash'ar sha'ar badani": [أشعرشعر بدني]
It's proof of #ArabHair problems, when instead of "chills" we say our body hair stands on end.
11. The one who gets away with murder: "He got out of it like a wisp of hair in dough"
"Tole' mitil el sha'raa min el ajeen": [طلع مثل الشعرة من العجين]
When someone gets away with a mistake and it's as easy as pulling a hair out of dough.
12. The one who's got ants in his pants: "His roots are burnt"
"Baselto mahrou'a": [بصلته محروقة]
This is a great way to describe that one friend who can't stay in one place for more than a few minutes.
13. That person that really doesn't appreciate you: "You reproached me for my white hair, which is a mark of dignity. I wish you would have reproached me for my flaws."
"Ayarteeni bil sheb w howa wakar ... la'aytoha ayarteeni b ma aar": [عيرتني بالشيب وهو وقار... ليتها عيرتني بما هو عار]
When someone criticizes you for your superficially bad traits, like white hair, without appreciating the deeper qualities of that trait. This is like when someone criticizes you for being too "hyper", "goofy" or "serious" without appreciating how those qualities contribute to the more beautiful aspects of your character.