Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Arabic term or phrase:
داري على شمعتك تقيد
English translation:
play your cards close to your chest
Arabic term
Translation is more than a job!
Native in: Arabic (Variants: Egyptian, Standard-Arabian (MSA)) 
Works in: Arabic to English, English to Arabic
داري على شمعتك تقيد
Apr 2, 2013 00:56: Lamis Maalouf changed "Language pair" from "English to Arabic" to "Arabic to English"
Proposed translations
High quality comes first!
Native in: Arabic
Works in: Arabic to English, English to Arabic, Arabic, and 3 more.
play your cards close to your chest
play one's cards close to one's chest and play one's cards close to one's vest; keep one's cards close to one's chest; keep one's cards close to one's vest
Fig. to keep to oneself or be very cautious in one's dealing with people. (As if one were playing cards and not permitting anyone to see any of the cards.) He is very cautious. He plays his cards close to his chest. You seem to be playing your cards close to your vest.
Morocco
A good translation shortens distances!
Native in: Arabic , French
Works in: English to Arabic, French to Arabic, Italian to Arabic, and 3 more.
be cautious! Don’t brag about what you have
| Thank you! |
Egypt
Technical accuracy with fluency of style
Native in: Arabic (Variant: Egyptian) 
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English, Arabic, and 1 more.
Don't wear your heart on your sleeve
| Thank you. |
| agree |
Lamis Maalouf
: جميل، بحثت عن مفهوم المثل بالعربية أولاً لأنه بالفعل مصري ولم أسمع به من قبل http://www.egyptianoasis.net/����-��-����-20/����-���-�����-����-13986/
35 mins
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Thank you!
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Morano El-Kholy
43 mins
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Thank you!
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Saudi Arabia
Translation is an informative profission
Native in: Arabic
Works in: Arabic to English, English to Arabic
take care of your interests, you get the rewards
| Thank you. |
United States
Quality comes first
Native in: Arabic (Variants: Egyptian, Standard-Arabian (MSA))
Works in: Arabic to English, English to Arabic
Conceal your blessings, lest you lose them.
Literally, the proverb says: guard (the flame of) your candle so that it continues to burn.
We, Egyptians, basically mean by it: do not reveal your blessings to avoid envy.
Don't wear your heart on your sleeve means do not show your feelings so it's a different meaning.
Brother Saleh's answer is quite close to the intended meaning.
| Thank you. |
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