اعد الخزانه ولا جوزاه الندامه

English translation: "It’s better to be single than to wish you were" OR "It's better to be single than to be married to the wrong person"

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Arabic term or phrase: اعد الخزانه ولا جوزاه الندامه
English translation:"It’s better to be single than to wish you were" OR "It's better to be single than to be married to the wrong person"
Entered by: Anis Farhat

17:31 May 20, 2012
Arabic to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Arabic term or phrase: اعد الخزانه ولا جوزاه الندامه
فى مثل بيقول اعد الخزانه ولا جوزاه الندامه

The topic is spinsterhood and getting married to someone who is bad match because you are getting old and are afraid you won't ever get married.

Although I understand the meaning of the above expression, I am interested in the following:

1. What does the saying literally say?

2. Is there any good equivalent in English?

Thank you for your help.
Arabic & More
Jordan
"It’s better to be single than to wish you were"/It's better to be single than to be married to the
Explanation:
It is better to be single than to wish you were.

To suit your context, it is better to remain a spinster than to wish you were.

Or: "It's better to be single than to be married to the wrong person".
Selected response from:

Anis Farhat
Tunisia
Local time: 19:15
Grading comment
Thank you for your help!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5"It’s better to be single than to wish you were"/It's better to be single than to be married to the
Anis Farhat
4get together in the Treasury permissible remorse
Ahmed Badawy
4Remain single rather than full of remorse..
Spiridon
4Remaining single is a better choice than marrying the wrong man.
Morano El-Kholy


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


45 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
get together in the Treasury permissible remorse


Explanation:
http://www.arabegyfriends.com/vb/post83209.html

Ahmed Badawy
Saudi Arabia
Local time: 21:15
Native speaker of: Arabic
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
"It’s better to be single than to wish you were"/It's better to be single than to be married to the


Explanation:
It is better to be single than to wish you were.

To suit your context, it is better to remain a spinster than to wish you were.

Or: "It's better to be single than to be married to the wrong person".


Example sentence(s):
  • As the saying goes, it’s better to be single than to wish you were.

    Reference: http://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/1990-02-18-Out-of-Contro...
    Reference: http://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/1997-11-23-What-Does-the...
Anis Farhat
Tunisia
Local time: 19:15
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you for your help!
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Remain single rather than full of remorse..


Explanation:
Better single than full of remorses

Spiridon
Brazil
Local time: 15:15
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese, Native in ArabicArabic, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 16
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15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Remaining single is a better choice than marrying the wrong man.


Explanation:
Remaining single is a better choice than marrying the wrong man.
Remaining single is much more better than getting married to the wrong man.

Morano El-Kholy
Egypt
Local time: 20:15
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 28
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