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  2. Arabic to English
  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

لِكُلِّ سَيْفٍ نَبْوَةٌ

English translation: Even Homer sometimes nods/Every tide has its ebb

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Arabic term or phrase:لِكُلِّ سَيْفٍ نَبْوَةٌ
English translation:Even Homer sometimes nods/Every tide has its ebb
Entered by: Nadia Ayoub

11:05 May 18, 2009
Arabic to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Arabic term or phrase: لِكُلِّ سَيْفٍ نَبْوَةٌ
No further context available.
Michael McCain (X)
France
Local time: 06:47
Even Homer sometimes nods/Every tide has its ebb
Explanation:
ولكل عالم هفوة
Selected response from:

Nadia Ayoub
Egypt
Local time: 06:47
Grading comment
Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +7Even Homer sometimes nods/Every tide has its ebb
Nadia Ayoub
5 +3Even Homer nods
Saleh Dardeer
4 +2(Even) A good marksman may miss
K. Ganly (X)
4Any sword may fail to hit
Ahmad Batiran


  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +7
Even Homer sometimes nods/Every tide has its ebb


Explanation:
ولكل عالم هفوة

Nadia Ayoub
Egypt
Local time: 06:47
Works in field
Native speaker of: Arabic
PRO pts in category: 106
Grading comment
Thank you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Hani Hassaan
8 mins
  -> Many thanks Hani :)
agree  hassan zekry: even Homer sometimes nods
10 mins
  -> Many thanks Hassan :)
agree  Lina Shehabi Murad (Mourant)
16 mins
  -> Many thanks Lina :)
agree  Mohamed Gaafar
26 mins
  -> Many thanks Mohamed :)
agree  Murad AWAD: Agree
17 hrs
  -> Many thanks Murad :)
agree  Mohsin Alabdali
1 day 22 hrs
  -> Many thanks Mohsin :)
agree  Zareh Darakjian Ph.D.
3 days 17 hrs
  -> Many thanks Dr. Zareh :)
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Even Homer nods


Explanation:
ونبا السيف عن الضّريبة: تجافَى ولم يَمضِ فيها.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 mins (2009-05-18 11:16:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------


فجاء ورقاء ينتقم لأبيه، وأخذ السيف وهو رجل واحد، وأراد أن يضرب خالداً لكن السيف نبا، أي: أخطأ ولم يصب، والعرب تقول: لكل سيف نبوة، ولكل عالم هفوة، ولكل صديق جفوة، ولكل جواد كبوة. فالجواد إذا عثر يقال: كبا، والصديق إذا بعد يقال: جفا، والسيف إذا لم يصب يقال: نبا، والعالم إذا أخطأ يقال: هفا، ولا يسلم أحد من ذلك
http://audio.islamweb.net/audio/index.php?page=FullContent&a...

Or Every tide has its ebb

the source of the first explanation is from مقاييس اللغة

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 27 mins (2009-05-18 11:33:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Oh,
I did not see the answer of Nadia when I was adding my second explanation

Saleh Dardeer
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 59

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Hani Hassaan
9 mins
  -> Many thanks, brother :)!
agree  Mohamed Gaafar
27 mins
  -> Thanks a bunch :)!
agree  Miftah Muman
1 hr
  -> Thanks a lot :) !
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
(Even) A good marksman may miss


Explanation:
Another option-
'Even a good marksman may miss' is quite commonly used, with the same meaning as the Homeric nod, though more 'popular' and less 'literary'.



K. Ganly (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:47
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ahmad Batiran
9 hrs
  -> Thanks Ahmad
agree  Heather Shaw
1 day 12 hrs
  -> thanks
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Any sword may fail to hit


Explanation:
Being literal.

Ahmad Batiran
Yemen
Local time: 07:47
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
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