אֵין עָשָׁן בְּלִי אֵשׁ

ביטוי (אנגלית)

There is no smoke without fire

הגדרה (אנגלית)

Smoke cannot be created without fire. Figuratively: Suspicions do not arise for no reason; they are likely based on something real.

(“Tanna and fire and coals of flame, as it is written: ‘Smoke went up from His nostrils,’ and there is no tanna without fire and no fire without tanna.” — Zohar, Idra Rabba, Vol. 3 (Numbers), Parashat Naso 137b. Also: “The pain will be greater for those who speak ill of a family, city, or tribe in Israel, whether Sephardim about Ashkenazim or Ashkenazim about Sephardim. It is known that God strictly punished those who slander Israel, and there is no city, family, tribe, or person without grain and straw, and no tree without smoke.” — Pele Yoetz, entry Lamed, Lashon Hara. Also: “There is no smoke without fire, for some grains of truth are surely found in their claims.” — Ahad Ha’am, ‘Slavery within Freedom’)