دود الجبن من فيه The maggot is from the cheese itself.

A Syrian proverb from Arabic Proverbs Collected by Mrs. A.P. Singer by Enno Littleman:


دود الجبن من فيه
(dud ilgibna minu feehu)
Literal meaning: The maggot is from the cheese itself.
Meaning: a problem in the family is caused by one of its members.Versions of this proverb are apparently found in Egypt and Morocco. 

اللي يجوز امي اقوله يا عمي The man who marries my mother, I call him uncle.

An Egyptian proverb from wikiquote
 اللي يجوز امي اقوله يا عمي
(ilalee yajuwaz omee aquluhu ya 'amee)
Literal meaning: The man who marries my mother, I call him uncle.
Meaning: If you can't beat them, join them.

من خرج من داره اتقل مقداره A man can be humiliated if he leaves his home.

This Egyptian proverb is from Hiba on wordreference.com:


من خرج من داره اتقل مقداره
(men kharag men daro it-al me-daro)
Literal meaning:A man can be humiliated if he leaves his home.
Meaning: A man's pride will be safe as long as he is in his own house, similar to "a man's home is his castle"

مقدي وخنجرة بحزامة beggars can't be choosers

I found a very interesting thread on wordreference giving Arabic equivalents for the English proverb "beggars can't be choosers". This Iraqi version is my favorite:


  مقدي وخنجرة بحزامة
(muqadi wakhanajara bihazaama)
Literal meaning: a beggar with a dagger in his belt.
Meaning: describes someone who tries to get his own way when he doesn't really have a choice.


Unlike the English proverb, most of  these Arabic proverbs describe behavior: طرّار و يتشرّط (Tarraar wiyitsharraT), "a beggar and he sets conditions" (Saudi);  شحات ونزهي (shaHaat wiyinazee) "a beggar but acting like a rich man." (Egyptian); شحات وعايز رغيف shaHaat wi'aayiz righeef -- a beggar and he wants a (whole) loaf (Egyptian).


I guess it's a universal sentiment

الشهر الي ما فيه لك شهرية لا عد ايام

An Arabic proverb from Arabic Proverbs Collected by Mrs. A.P. Singer by Enno Littleman
الشهر الي ما فيه لك شهرية لا عد ايام 
Literal meaning: In a month without wages, do not count the days.
Meaning: A day when you don't achieve anything, doesn't count. Littleman says that this proverb is said in many countries: Egypt, Sudan, Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Morocco, and Iraq.    


You can read the book for free here.

إِيشْ مَا طَبَخِت الرَّعْنَة بِيَاكْلُهْ جُوزْهَاالأَعْمَى

An Egyptian proverb from http://www.egyptianarabic.com:


إِيشْ مَا طَبَخِت الرَّعْنَة بِيَاكْلُهْ جُوزْهَاالأَعْمَى
(aish ma Tabakhat ir-ra'ana biyakul goozha il-'ama)
Literal meaning: Whatever the crazy wife cooks her blind husband will eat.
Meaning: To get away with bad behavior, as in the English saying "To get away with murder"

جهم ما فهاش مرواح

From Joseph Hanki's Arabic Proverbs:

جهم ما فهاش مرواح
(jahem ma fahaash marwah)

Literal Meaning: In Hell, there are no fans

Meaning: I think it speaks for itself.  

يا واخدة القرد على ماله، يروح المال ويبقَى القرد على حاله

An Egyptian proverb courtesy of Cherine of the wonderful Wordreference forums

يا واخدة القرد على ماله، يروح المال ويبقَى القرد على حاله
Literal Meaning: If you marry a monkey for his money, the money can be lost, but the monkey will still be a monkey.
Meaning: Think twice about marrying an ugly person for his money.

This is my new favorite.  

شحشخ يلتموا عليك

Another Egyptian proverb from Arabic Proverbs.

.شحشخ يلتموا عليك
(shahashakh yeltamu aleik)
Literal Meaning: Jingle (your coins) and they (people) will gather.
Meaning: If you spend money, you will have company. Suggestions for an English equivalent? Comment below.  

زي همام بلا ميه

An Egyptian proverb from Arabic Proverbs by Joseph Hanki


زي همام بلا ميه
(zai hamaam bila meeh)

Taken by GunnarinIstanbul: 2007

Literal Meaning- Like a Turkish bath without water.
Meaning- Describes a group of people in turmoil. A rough English equivalent might be "like chickens with their heads cut off".

البنات بسبع وجوه

Another proverb from my Egyptian friend (read his blog here.)


 البنات بسبع وجوه 

(al banat besaba'a wa gooha)

Literal meaning: Girls have seven faces

Meaning: Girls' looks change as they grow up.


I honestly can't think of an English equivalent for this one. Suggestions? 

آدي السما و آدي الأرض

This Egyptian proverb is courtesy of the writer of http://egyptiannerdpopcorn.blogspot.com/

آدي السما  و آدي الأرض

(adee el sama w adee el ard)

Literal meaning: Here is the sky, and here is the earth.

Meaning:  You can look all you want, but what you want doesn't exist.

It is an Egyptian proverb said to people who ask for something impossible, a little like "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride."