When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer from it -- the innocent are involved.; A city fire causes calamity to pond fish.; A fire on the city wall brings disaster to the fish in the moat.; be a scapegoat; In a disturbance innocent by-standers get into trouble.; Innocent people get into trouble on occount of others' misfortune.; When the city burns, the fish in the moat suffer -- victim of disaster of another's doing.