ఆవులూ ఆవులూ పోట్లాడుకుంటే లేగదూడల కాళ్లు విరిగినట్టు

avulu avulu potladukunte legadudala kallu viriginattu

Translation

When cows fight with each other, it is the calves' legs that get broken.

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where the conflict between two powerful or senior parties results in the suffering of innocent or subordinate individuals who are caught in the middle. It is used to highlight how collateral damage often affects the most vulnerable.

Related Phrases

Like bulls fighting and breaking the calves' legs

This expression describes a situation where powerful people or leaders fight among themselves, but the innocent, weak, or subordinates are the ones who suffer the consequences. It is used when a conflict between two major parties results in collateral damage to those who have no part in the dispute.

When the cows fight, the sucking calves' legs are broken. When the great fall out, the poor suffer.

This proverb describes a situation where the conflict or power struggle between two powerful parties or superiors results in the suffering of innocent, smaller, or weaker subordinates who are caught in the middle. It is used to highlight collateral damage caused by leadership disputes.

Like a ram fighting with a mountain

This expression describes a situation where someone attempts a task that is far beyond their capability, or challenges an opponent who is vastly more powerful. It highlights the futility and inevitable self-destruction of such an uneven confrontation.

Uncontrolled horses are said to have wandered into the forests.

This expression is used to highlight the consequences of a lack of discipline or supervision. Just as horses without a rider or control stray into the wild and become useless for their purpose, people or projects without proper guidance and boundaries will drift aimlessly and fail to achieve their goals.

Like cows fighting with each other and breaking the legs of the calves.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a conflict between two powerful or senior parties results in collateral damage to innocent, smaller, or subordinate people. It highlights how the vulnerable often suffer the consequences of disputes they aren't even involved in.

Like the plowing oxen fighting and breaking the calves' legs

This expression describes a situation where the conflict or mistakes of superiors or powerful people result in suffering for the innocent, weak, or subordinates. It is used when a quarrel between two parties causes collateral damage to someone who has no involvement in the matter.

Like a ram butting a mountain. Great conceit.

This proverb describes a situation where someone attempts to challenge or fight an opponent that is far more powerful or immovable than themselves. It highlights a futile effort where the weaker party only ends up hurting themselves while the stronger party remains unaffected.

A calf which has drunk the milk of two cows. It is common among Hindus for childless persons to adopt children of their friends and treat them as their own. Such children are petted both by their real and by their adoptive parents, and are in consequence often spoilt.

This expression refers to a person who is exceptionally strong, healthy, or energetic because they have benefited from multiple sources of support or resources. It can also describe someone who is overly smart, cunning, or quick-witted due to having diverse experiences or 'best of both worlds' advantages.

Fighting for the fire-dogs.

This expression describes people who engage in senseless or petty quarrels over things that are worthless or irrelevant. It originates from the imagery of someone fighting over the stones used to build a temporary cooking stove, which are easily available and hold no real value.

Pokkaṭi Rāḷḷu are three clods of earth, or round stones used as a tem- porary fire place. Quarrelling for something of no value.

Like calves getting their legs broken during a fight between bulls.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where innocent or smaller people suffer consequences due to a conflict between two powerful individuals or parties. It highlights how subordinates often become collateral damage in the disputes of their superiors.