“The chicken scratched dirt onto its own head” (Palestinian–Jordanian dialect) There was a woman named Hanaa who loved getting involved in people’s lives and causing problems between them. If she saw someone happy or doing well… she just had to say something that would stir things up. One time in the neighborhood, she saw two neighbors who were close friends. She went to the first one and said: “I swear I don’t want to interfere… but your friend was talking about you yesterday.” Then she went to the second one and said: “Be careful… not everyone likes you sincerely.” Within two days, the two neighbors fought and stopped speaking to each other. Hanaa was pleased with herself, feeling clever. But what she didn’t know… was that one of the neighbors had recorded the phone call between her and Hanaa. A few days later, the truth spread throughout the whole neighborhood. People found out that Hanaa was the one causing the problems and spreading gossip. The neighbors started avoiding her, and nobody trusted what she said anymore. Even when she told the truth… nobody believed her. One day, she was sitting alone in front of her house, upset. An older neighbor walked by, looked at her, and said: “What’s wrong, Hanaa?” Hanaa replied bitterly: “I don’t understand why people suddenly turned against me for no reason.” The neighbor raised an eyebrow and said: “Honestly… the chicken scratched dirt onto its own head.” Hanaa went silent and realized that someone who tries to create problems for others is really digging a hole for themselves. The proverb “The chicken scratched dirt onto its own head” is used mockingly or as commentary when someone tries to hurt others or create trouble for people, but in the end, their actions come back on them — and they become the first victim of what they caused.