Today’s Egyptian Arabic Idiom is: احنا دافنينو سوا
_(Dafneno sawa)_
Translation: We buried it Together
English equivalent: To believe your own lies
The story
The story of the Egyptian Arabic idiom “We buried it together” – احنا دافنينو سوا goes way back in the days, when two merchants had a donkey that was called “Abou Al-Sabr” (the father of patience). When their donkey died, they felt sad and decided to keep its memory and appreciate its efforts by crying on its grave, they kept doing that everyday, till people noticed their grief and asked them about the reason for their sadness.
“Abo El Sabr passed away; he was a symbol goodness, bliss, helpfulness, patience and mercy,” they said, so people thought that they were talking about a holy person who was buried there.
Next day the merchants built a mausoleum over the donkey’s grave, and people began to provide their offerings, gifts and presents for “Sheikh Abo El Sabr.” and the merchants used to collect them and divide them equally.
A few years later, one of the merchants took the entire amount of gifts and offerings collected without splitting them in half; the other merchant threatened to complain to Sheikh Abo El Sabr. It was then when his friend laughed and said: “We buried him together, remember?”
How its used
Nowadays, people use “We buried it Together” when someone believes his own lies or tries to trick and deceive his partner, or when two people are talking and one of them is referring to a dark secret only both of them know, in that situation, one would say “Don’t do that with me, We buried it Together”.
Example:
A: والله هقول لكل الناس على اللي انت عملته الاسبوع اللي فات
walahy ha2ol lkol elnas 3ala el enta 3amlto elesbo3 eli fat
B: متنساش انك كنت معايا، احنا دافنينو سوا
matnsash enak kont ma3ia, ehna dafneno sawa
Translation:
A: I swear I would tell everyone about what you did last week
B: Don’t forget you were with me, We buried it Together.
Check out the story narrated by an Egyptian Actress 🙂
Let us know how would you use “We buried it Together” in your daily life!
Happy Learning 🙂
