Of a proverb and vocabulary

1. A drowning man will clutch at a straw just to save himself.
A very apt proverb , especially and specifically suitable to describe a person who has been caught with his hands in the cookie jar . In other words , a person who is desperate will lie through his teeth and react even dangerously like a cornered animal to cover up his mistake .

2. 'Badmouth'
I have seen another word being used in a context which is dangerous and may the person using it may actually be defaming the character and integrity of another , and defaming the character of a person may actually bring a host of problems to you.

'Badmouth' . If you accuse a person of badmouthing a group of people, it is valid if you are telling lies or belittling them.

However if you are telling the truth, no matter how bad it may be, THAT is not 'badmouthing',.

According to the dictionary , the synonyms are :-

Synonyms: belittle, criticize, disparage, knock*, malign, pan, put down*, rap, rip, roast*, run down*, slam, slander, tear down*, cut down to size, dis, dump on, find fault, mudsling, pooh pooh, take a dig at, take down a peg, tear to pieces

3. 'Unethical'
Here's another word which I came across this week . Again , wrongly used, it can lend you into a lot of trouble legally. When you used it to describe a person, especially in writing , you may , again be attacking the person's integrity . You are actually accusing the person of ,according to the dictionary

base, dishonorable, dishonourable, immoral

Again , the synonyms given in the dictionary are:

Synonyms: cheating, corrupt, crooked, dirty*, dishonorable, disreputable, fake, fishy*, flimflam*, fly-by-night*, illegal, improper, mercenary, scam*, shady*, sharp*, slick*, slippery*, sneaky*, two-faced*, two-timing, underhand, unfair, unprincipled, unprofessional, unscrupulous, wrong, dirty-dealing, double-crossing.

4. Force

When you accuse someone of using force on you, it better be specific in its form. Even to the point of saying that 'a person used force to make you confess to a wrong deed' may fall back on your face .

Lets look at the implication of such a statement . You are actually accusing the person of , again , according to the dictionary:

verb (used with object)

18.	to compel, constrain, or oblige (oneself or someone) to do something: to force a suspect to confess.

19.	d. They forced ir into his lungs.

20.	to bring about or effect by force.

22.	to put or impose (something or someone) forcibly on or upon a person: to force one's opinions on others.

23.	to compel by force; overcome the resistance of: to force acceptance of something.

24.	to obtain or draw forth by or as if by force; extort: to force a confession.

26.	to break open (a door, lock, etc.).

28.	to press, urge, or exert (an animal, person, etc.) to violent effort or to the utmost.

29.	to use force upon.

30.

to rape.

Can I finish this with two Malay proverbs.

1. ....kerana mulut , badan binasa...
2. Tepuk dada, tanya selera.

Wonder if there is an English version close to it ?