زى السمك ياكل بعضه Zayy el samak yakol ba'du Translation: Like fish, eating its own kind Meaning: It's a jungle out there; dog eats dog. The saying is mostly used about people stabbing their close ones in the back, their long times acquaintances, even their blood relations. Usually, you'll hear it from someone who would claim some moral superiority over the fish-like characters who rose high not because of their talent but because of their lack of scruple. Source: Egyptian Proverbs, (Al-Ahram Center for Translation and Publishing, 1986) by Ahmed Taymour Pasha, Translated by: Nabil Shawkat http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/137300.aspx