Literal Meaning

One who wants to scare you from the chief's courtyard, will say that the chief is in a very bad mood

Implied Meaning

In order to discourage you from seeking the help of an influential person, someone could use all kinds of excuses- a busy schedule, poor health, a bad mood - all done out of spite to make it appear as though the person is unavailable

Origin

In the past, chiefs were extremely powerful and were known to administer very harsh penalties when provoked. It was not wise to enter a chief's courtyard if he was still seething with anger, as this just worsened matters and led to stiffer penalties