Meaning
To intentionally complicate or hinder a matter, creating obstacles or problems.
Cultural Background
In the Levant, you'll often hear 'Hatt 'isi' (putting sticks - plural). It's used very frequently in daily life to complain about neighbors or coworkers who are 'not letting things pass' (ma bi-marrquha). Egyptians might use 'Yawa'af al-hal' (stopping the state/flow) as a synonym, but 'Wada' al-'asa' is used in formal Egyptian media and by the intelligentsia to describe bureaucratic 'Routine'. In the Gulf, with the rapid pace of development, this phrase is often used to describe 'old-school' thinking that hinders 'Vision' (Ru'ya) projects or modern tech adoption. While French is influential here, the Arabic idiom remains strong in formal settings. It is often used in trade union (Niqaba) disputes to describe strikes that 'jam the gears' of the economy.
Use it in Job Interviews
If asked how you handle conflict, you can say: 'I try to find the person who is putting the stick in the wheel and talk to them directly.' It shows high-level linguistic and social awareness.
Don't be too aggressive
This is a strong accusation. If you say this to a boss, you are essentially calling them a saboteur. Use it carefully!
Meaning
To intentionally complicate or hinder a matter, creating obstacles or problems.
Use it in Job Interviews
If asked how you handle conflict, you can say: 'I try to find the person who is putting the stick in the wheel and talk to them directly.' It shows high-level linguistic and social awareness.
Don't be too aggressive
This is a strong accusation. If you say this to a boss, you are essentially calling them a saboteur. Use it carefully!
Dialect Check
In Lebanon, if you say 'Dulab', people might think of a car tire. In Egypt, they might think of a wardrobe. But in this idiom, everyone knows it means 'the mechanism'.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'Wada' and the noun 'Al-Dulab'.
الموظف الكسول يحاول دائماً ___ العصا في ___.
The standard idiom is 'Wada' al-'asa fi al-dulab'.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'وضع العصا في الدولاب'?
أي موقف يناسب هذا المثل؟
The idiom describes intentional obstruction or making things difficult.
Choose the best response to complete the dialogue.
أحمد: 'لماذا تأخر المشروع؟' خالد: 'لأن المحاسب يرفض التوقيع، إنه ___.'
Khaled is explaining that the accountant is sabotaging the progress.
Match the idiom to its meaning in a political context.
ما معنى 'وضع العصا في الدولاب' في السياسة؟
In politics, it refers to blocking progress or negotiations.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesالموظف الكسول يحاول دائماً ___ العصا في ___.
The standard idiom is 'Wada' al-'asa fi al-dulab'.
أي موقف يناسب هذا المثل؟
The idiom describes intentional obstruction or making things difficult.
أحمد: 'لماذا تأخر المشروع؟' خالد: 'لأن المحاسب يرفض التوقيع، إنه ___.'
Khaled is explaining that the accountant is sabotaging the progress.
ما معنى 'وضع العصا في الدولاب' في السياسة؟
In politics, it refers to blocking progress or negotiations.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsIn Modern Standard Arabic, yes. In dialects, it can mean closet or cupboard, but in this idiom, it *always* refers to a wheel or gear.
No, it implies they are slow *on purpose* to cause a problem. If they are just naturally slow, use 'بطيء' (bati').
No, this is a modern idiom. It does not appear in classical religious texts.
وضع العصي في الدواليب (Wada' al-'usi fi al-dawalib). Used when there are many obstacles or many people involved.
It is understood, but 'Dulab' is the fixed part of the idiom. Changing it makes it sound less like a proverb and more like a literal description.
Related Phrases
عرقلة المسيرة
synonymObstructing the march/progress.
تكسير المجاديف
similarBreaking the oars.
تسهيل الأمور
contrastMaking matters easy.
حجر عثرة
similarA stumbling block.
