This saying refers to the ancient Malagasy custom of throwing pieces of cow dung towards the new moon during Alahamady, the first month of the Malagasy year. For a leper attempting to do this, he must look up, thereby revealing his deformed face which he usually keeps hidden. The proverb emphasizes the idea that whatever is usually hidden can become visible under certain circumstances. In English, an equivalent proverb might be ‘There are no secrets that time does not reveal’.