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Arabic · Arabic scriptProverb: Verified

«اِلدَّعْوَى الزُّورْ تِفْتَحْ كِيسِ الْقَاضِي»

Meanings

Each meaning is reviewed on its own.

Meaning: Verified
English translation

Bring a lying suit, and the judge's purse comes open.

Literal wording

The false claim opens the judge's purse.

Meaning and lesson

The picture is of a judge whose money pouch opens to receive payment when a knowingly false claim is laid before him. A case with no truth behind it cannot stand on its own, so the saying ties it to payments meant to sway the verdict. Deliberately dishonest litigation is thus shown as something that gives rise to bribery.

More broadly, it suggests that falsehood and corruption go hand in hand: a lie pursued through formal channels tends to pull money into the process. It targets bribery prompted by false claims in general, not any particular court system, and can rebuke someone pressing a baseless claim or mock justice that can be bought.

When it is used

Fits remarks about someone knowingly pressing a false complaint or accusation through official channels and turning to payments to secure a favorable decision. It suits critical or wry comment on bribery in the settling of disputes.

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