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إذا غاب القطو العب يا فار

“When the cat is away, play, mouse.”

People take advantage of freedom or a lack of supervision to do as they please, the Bahraini equivalent of when the cat is away, the mice will play.

— Traditional Bahrain Wisdom, Bahrain

Source: Traditional Bahrain proverb, public-domain oral tradition

More Proverbs from Bahrain

ما لك غير خشمك لو كان عوج

“All you have is your nose, even if it's bent.”

You must accept and make the best of what you actually have, since it is the only thing that is truly yours.

Source: Traditional Bahrain proverb, public-domain oral tradition

ذنب الجلب ما ينعدل

“You can't straighten a dog's tail.”

A person's core nature or bad habits cannot be permanently changed, no matter how hard you try.

Source: Traditional Bahrain proverb, public-domain oral tradition

الناس في زلزلة والمرأة تدور رجل

“The world is in turmoil, and the woman is still looking for a husband.”

Said of someone chasing a trivial personal goal while everyone around them faces a much bigger crisis.

Source: Traditional Bahrain proverb, public-domain oral tradition

اللي مايطول العنب حامض عنه يقول

“Whoever can't reach the grapes says they are sour.”

People often belittle what they cannot have, making excuses to hide their own failure or envy.

Source: Traditional Bahrain proverb, public-domain oral tradition

علمناهم على الطرارة سبقونا على البيبان

“We taught them how to beg, and they beat us to the doors.”

A warning about ingratitude — those you help can surpass or outmaneuver you using the very skill you gave them.

Source: Traditional Bahrain proverb, public-domain oral tradition

اللي في الجدر يطلعه الملاس

“What is in the pot, the spoon will dig it out.”

The truth always comes out eventually, no matter how well it is hidden.

Source: Traditional Bahrain proverb, public-domain oral tradition