Interesting metaphor in today's paper for a hypocrite:

ตาแก่ที่ถือศีลกินเพล แต่เรียกดอกเบี้ยมหาโหดมากนัก

[dtaa gàe têe tĕu sĕen gin play dtàe rîak dòk bîa má-hăa hòht mâak nák]

Lit: "an old grandfather who keeps Buddhist principles and follows the eating restrictions (like a monk) but who demands cruelly high (unconscionable) amounts of interest (on loans)."

Or, more figuratively, "a man who practices his religion scrupulously but who engages in immoral and inhumane business practices."

Any other extended metaphors like this that you can think of?

Quick side note: David, you probably know this, but it looks like you've copied the transliteration from t2e, so allow me to point out that เพล is pronounced [เพน] 'pain' not [เพฺล] 'play'. It's from the same Indic root as the word เวลา. As stated in your translation, กินเพล refers to eating at the monk's (once-a-day) mealtime, and along with ถือศีล refers to strict adherence to religious principles.

ถือศีลกินเพล is also a rhyming elaborate expression (rhyming ศีล and กิน). ศีล is typically pronounced with a short vowel.

Interesting expression. Thanks for bringing it up!

Can't think of extended metaphors at the moment, but Thai sure does have an abundance of concise ones to refer to hypocrisy.

หน้าเนื้อใจเสือ is one of my favourites.