捕縄

ほじょう

police-man's rope

泥縄

どろなわ

braiding the rope only after the thief is caught, measure taken in haste or too late

人を見たら泥棒と思え

ひとをみたらどろぼうとおもえ

don't trust strangers, always assume the worst (of people)

泥棒

どろぼう

thief, burglar, robber, theft

泥田を棒で打つ

どろたをぼうでうつ

to do something stupid, to do something pointless, to hit a muddy rice field with a stick

捕り縄

とりなわ

rope for tying criminals

泥縄式

どろなわしき

last minute, eleventh hour

綯う

なう

to twine (fibers to make rope), to twist

牛泥棒

うしどろぼう

rustler, cattle thief

墓泥棒

はかどろぼう

grave robber, grave robbing

大泥棒

おおどろぼう

master thief; notorious robber

花泥棒

はなどろぼう

flower thief, stealing flowers

泥棒猫

どろぼうねこ どろぼうネコ

thieving cat

車泥棒

くるまどろぼう

auto theft, car thief

泥を塗る

どろをぬる

to besmirch, to sully

泥を吐く

どろをはく

to fess up, to come clean, to confess one's crimes, to spill the beans

泥を被る

どろをかぶる どろをこうむる

to take the blame, to cover oneself in mud

犯人を捕まえる

はんにんをつかまえる

to arrest the culprit

足を棒にして

あしをぼうにして

(e.g. to walk, stand, etc., until) one's legs turn to lead, (doing something) until one's legs tire and stiffen