زى جمعية الغربان أولها كاك و اخرها كاك

Zayy gam’eyet el gherban, awwelha kak we akherha kak

Translation: Like the crows’ meeting, starts with “caw” and ends with “caw”; mostly noise

Meaning: This is another dated proverb that deserves to be revived. It is about people holding a meeting, but instead of reaching results, make a lot of noise – like crows cawing - and reach no conclusion.

Source: Egyptian Proverbs, (Al-Ahram Center for Translation and Publishing, 1986) by Ahmed Taymour Pasha,

Translated by: Nabil Shawkat