అడుగు తప్పితే పిడుగు తప్పుతుంది
adugu tappite pidugu tapputundi
If a step is missed, a lightning strike is avoided.
This expression is used to signify a narrow escape from a major disaster or a life-threatening situation. It suggests that a small change in timing or a slight physical shift saved someone from a great calamity.
Related Phrases
ఏ పాటు తప్పినా సాపాటు తప్పదు.
e patu tappina sapatu tappadu.
Whatever work is neglected, eating is not forgotten.
This proverb highlights that regardless of one's struggles, difficulties, or busy schedule, the basic necessity of eating is unavoidable and essential for survival. It is often used to emphasize that humans must work to satisfy their hunger, or as a justification for taking a break to eat despite being in the middle of a crisis.
బాపలు తప్పినా వేపలు తప్పవు, వేపలు తప్పినా ఏరువాకా పున్నమి తప్పదు
bapalu tappina vepalu tappavu, vepalu tappina eruvaka punnami tappadu
Even if the Brahmins miss (the predictions), the neem trees won't; even if the neem trees miss, the Eruvaka Purnima won't.
This is a traditional agricultural proverb highlighting the certainty of seasonal cycles. It suggests that while human predictions (astrology/almanacs) might fail, nature's signs (like neem trees flowering) and fixed seasonal festivals (like Eruvaka Purnima, which marks the start of the sowing season) are reliable indicators for farmers to begin their work.
మితం తప్పితే హితం తప్పుతుంది
mitam tappite hitam tapputundi
If moderation is missed, well-being is lost.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of moderation in all aspects of life. It suggests that once a person exceeds limits—whether in food, speech, or behavior—the benefit or goodness associated with it disappears and leads to negative consequences.
రాజు నీతి తప్పితే, నేల సారం తప్పుతుంది
raju niti tappite, nela saram tapputundi
If the king fails in righteousness, the land loses its fertility
This proverb emphasizes the impact of leadership on society. It suggests that when a leader lacks integrity or fails to govern justly, the entire region and its people suffer. In a modern context, it is used to describe how the lack of ethics in management or governance leads to the decline and ruin of an organization or a nation.
గొడుగు పడితే పిడుగుకు అడ్డమా?
godugu padite piduguku addama?
If you hold an umbrella, can it stop a lightning strike?
This proverb is used to highlight the inadequacy of small or trivial efforts when facing a major disaster or an overwhelming force. It suggests that certain problems are so massive that common defensive measures are completely useless against them.
పిడుగుకు గొడుగు అడ్డమా?
piduguku godugu addama?
Will an umbrella stop a thunderbolt?
This expression is used to highlight the futility of using weak or insignificant defenses against a massive, overwhelming force or a major disaster. It suggests that certain problems are too big to be solved by trivial means.
గొడుగు పట్టితే పిడుగుకు అడ్డమా?
godugu pattite piduguku addama?
Is holding an umbrella an obstacle to a lightning bolt?
This expression is used to describe a situation where a small or inadequate solution is proposed for a massive, unstoppable problem. It highlights the futility of using weak defenses against powerful forces or inevitable consequences.
తల్లి ఛాయ పిల్లకు తప్పదు
talli chhaya pillaku tappadu
A mother's shadow/influence cannot be escaped by the child.
This proverb is the Telugu equivalent of 'Like mother, like daughter' or 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree'. It implies that a child (specifically a daughter) will naturally inherit the traits, character, and habits of her mother.
అడుగు పెట్టగానే పిడుగు పడ్డట్లు.
adugu pettagane pidugu paddatlu.
Like a thunderbolt falling the moment one steps in.
This expression is used to describe an unfortunate coincidence where a disaster or a piece of very bad news occurs immediately after someone's arrival. It is often used to imply that a person's entry brought bad luck or that they arrived at an extremely ill-fated moment.
డొంకలో దాగితే పిడుగుపాటు తప్పుతుందా?
donkalo dagite pidugupatu tapputunda?
If you hide in a bush, can you escape a lightning strike?
This proverb is used to convey that one cannot escape a major inevitable danger or destiny by taking small, inadequate, or temporary precautions. It implies that certain consequences are unavoidable regardless of where one tries to hide.