అరిటాకు వచ్చి ముల్లు మీద పడ్డా, ముల్లు వచ్చి అరిటాకు మీద పడ్డా నష్టపోయేది అరిటాకే.

aritaku vachchi mullu mida padda, mullu vachchi aritaku mida padda nashtapoyedi aritake.

Translation

The plantain leaf alike suffers, whether it falls on the thorn, or the thorn falls on it.

Meaning

This proverb is used to illustrate a situation where a weak or vulnerable person always ends up losing when they collide or deal with a powerful or harmful entity, regardless of who started the conflict. It emphasizes that in an unequal match, the fragile side is always the victim.

Related Phrases

If the young girl gets thin it's a problem, if she grows too fat it's also a problem.

This proverb is used to describe a delicate or troublesome situation where there is no perfect outcome. No matter which way things turn out, there will be difficulties or complaints. It is often used to refer to people who are never satisfied or situations that are inherently problematic regardless of the change in state.

Like coming for milk but hiding the vessel.

This proverb is used to describe a person who approaches someone for help or with a specific purpose but hesitates to speak their mind or hides their true intentions due to shyness, false pride, or unnecessary secrecy. It highlights the irony of wanting something while being too secretive to ask for it.

Like a temple coming and falling on you.

This expression is used to describe a situation where an unexpected, massive responsibility or a heavy burden suddenly falls upon someone without any prior warning or effort of their own. It is often used when an unavoidable problem or a huge task is thrust upon a person.

An unexpected calamity.

Begging for milk and hiding his cup.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone approaches another person for help or a favor but is too hesitant, shy, or secretive to state their actual need. It highlights the irony of intending to ask for something while concealing the very tool or reason needed to receive it.

Poverty and pride.

Whether the thorn falls on the banana leaf, or the banana leaf falls on the thorn, it is the leaf that suffers.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a weak or vulnerable person is always the one at a disadvantage when dealing with someone powerful or harmful, regardless of who initiated the interaction. It suggests that in certain lopsided conflicts, the outcome is inevitably damaging for the fragile party.

Happiness [is followed by ] trouble. Grief borders on the extremes of gladness. (Latin.) If you laugh to-day you may cry to-morrow.

This expression means that true happiness or comfort can only be achieved after enduring hard work or difficulty. It emphasizes that the reward of pleasure is the result of previous struggle.

Whether the banana leaf falls on the thorn or the thorn falls on the banana leaf, it is the banana leaf that gets damaged.

This proverb describes a situation where a weak person or entity is always the one at a disadvantage when in conflict with a strong or harmful one, regardless of who started the confrontation. It is used to advise caution and avoiding unnecessary friction with dangerous people or powerful opponents because the outcome will always be detrimental to the vulnerable party.

A woman's life is like a banana leaf.

This proverb highlights the perceived vulnerability and fragility of a woman's life in traditional society. Like a banana leaf, which gets damaged whether it falls on a thorn or a thorn falls on it, a woman's reputation or life is seen as being easily affected by circumstances regardless of who is at fault.

Whether a thorn falls on a banana leaf or a banana leaf falls on a thorn, it is the banana leaf that suffers.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a vulnerable person is always at a disadvantage when dealing with a powerful or harmful entity, regardless of who initiated the conflict. It implies that the weak must be extra cautious because they will be the ones to get hurt in any encounter with the strong.

Whether the thorn falls on the banana leaf, or the banana leaf falls on the thorn, it is the banana leaf that suffers.

This proverb is used to illustrate that in a conflict between a strong entity and a weak one, the weaker party will always be the one to suffer the damage, regardless of who initiated the confrontation. It serves as a warning for the vulnerable to be cautious and avoid unnecessary friction with those who are more powerful or harmful.