మనుం గొట్టగా మాసం చిక్కినాడు.

manum gottaga masam chikkinadu.

Translation

When the canal was struck (to catch fish), a thief was caught.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone happens to get caught for their previous misdeeds or hidden secrets while an unrelated activity or investigation is taking place. It is similar to the idea of a 'windfall' discovery but in a negative or corrective context.

Related Phrases

A quarrel that is caught, or a quarrel that is not caught?

This expression is used to describe a situation or an argument that is complicated and difficult to settle. It refers to a dilemma where one is unsure whether a dispute is manageable (caught) or completely out of control and slippery (not caught), highlighting a state of confusion or persistent trouble.

Beautiful people look good even if they get thin, just as the 'Sanna Beera' vegetable looks good even when it wilts.

This proverb is used to describe things or people of inherent quality. It implies that true beauty or excellence does not vanish easily due to temporary hardships or physical changes. Just as a naturally beautiful person retains their charm even after losing weight, high-quality items or virtuous people maintain their grace even in difficult times.

If caught, a thief; if not caught, a lord.

This expression describes a situation where a person's reputation or status depends entirely on whether their dishonest actions are discovered. It is used to point out hypocrisy or the fact that many people who appear respectable might actually be doing something wrong but simply haven't been caught yet.

When a Mussulman raid is expected is one [ afraid of ] facing Venus ? Are omens observed in times of danger ? Necessity has no law. (Latin.)

This proverb emphasizes that in times of extreme emergency or life-threatening situations, one should not worry about superstitions, astrology, or formal rituals. It suggests that survival and immediate action take priority over traditional constraints or waiting for a 'lucky' time.

Without a leash or a tether

This expression is used to describe someone who acts without any restraint, discipline, or control. It is often applied to people who behave recklessly or speak without thinking, similar to an animal that has broken free from its harness.

Even if a beautiful woman becomes thin or a handsome man faints, they still look beautiful.

This proverb suggests that true beauty or quality does not fade easily even under unfavorable conditions. It is used to describe people or things that maintain their grace and value despite hardships, illness, or slight deterioration.

Putting on fine clothes when turned out of the house; adorning the threshold when driven out by the husband. Trying to please when too late.

This proverb is used to describe a person who tries to maintain a false appearance of dignity or vanity even after facing a humiliating defeat or loss. It refers to someone who acts pretentious or focuses on superficialities when their fundamental situation is ruined or when they have been rejected.

An extra month during a famine.

This expression is used to describe a situation where an already difficult or bad situation is made worse by further complications or burdens. It is equivalent to the English idiom 'Misfortunes never come singly' or 'When it rains, it pours'.

Like hitting soil on a fox's mouth.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone's plans or expectations are completely ruined or blocked at the very last moment, often resulting in great disappointment. It is similar to the English idiom 'to take the bread out of someone's mouth'.

Second-marriage daughter-in-law getting advice from a second-marriage mother-in-law.

This expression is used to describe a situation where two people who have both made similar mistakes or have similar controversial backgrounds are trying to advise or judge one another. It implies that neither party has the moral high ground or superior experience to be lecturing the other, often highlighting hypocrisy or a 'pot calling the kettle black' scenario.