బాహ్య ధార్మికుడు ఆంతరంగిక పిశాచము
bahya dharmikudu antarangika pishachamu
A righteous person outwardly, a demon inwardly.
This expression is used to describe a hypocrite who pretends to be virtuous, moral, or religious in public while possessing a wicked or malicious character in private. It is similar to the English idiom 'A wolf in sheep's clothing.'
Related Phrases
ఆషాఢానికి పిషాణాలు బద్దలగును
ashadhaniki pishanalu baddalagunu
By Ashadha, the granaries will break open.
This proverb refers to the onset of the monsoon season in the Hindu month of Ashadha. It signifies that the heavy rains during this time lead to the sprouting of stored seeds or the necessity to use up stored grains for the new sowing season, metaphorically 'breaking' the storage containers due to pressure or urgent need.
ఆచారానికి అంతమూ లేదు, అనాచారానికి ఆదీ లేదు
acharaniki antamu ledu, anacharaniki adi ledu
There is no limit to purity, nor any beginning to impurity. Man is sinful from his birth, and never attains to perfect purity.
This proverb highlights that tradition and custom (Achara) can be endlessly elaborate with no final limit, while deviations or lack of tradition (Anachara) have no specific origin or defined structure. It is often used to suggest that one can get lost in the complexities of rituals or that improper conduct has existed forever without a clear starting point.
మౌనం అర్ధాంగీకారం
maunam ardhangikaram
Silence is half-acceptance
This expression is used to suggest that if a person remains silent when a proposition is made or a question is asked, it can be interpreted as their partial consent or tacit agreement. It is similar to the Latin proverb 'Silence gives consent'.
తన నీడే తన పిశాచము
tana nide tana pishachamu
His shadow is his devil. Afraid of his own shadow.
This expression describes a state of extreme guilt, paranoia, or fear where a person is haunted by their own actions. It suggests that when someone has a guilty conscience or is deeply afraid, even their own shadow appears like a threatening spirit, meaning they cannot escape their own mind.
గంగాధరుడు చచ్చినాడు అమ్మా!
gangadharudu chachchinadu amma!
O Madam! Gangâdhara is dead. The story is as follows :—The washerwoman of a certain Queen had a female donkey which was pregnant. The woman vowed to Siva that if the donkey was safely delivered she would call the young one Gangâdhara ( one of the names of Siva, signifying " the receiver of the Ganges" ). The birth took place and the vow was fulfilled, but after a short time the young donkey died. The washerwoman was in great grief, neglected to bring the Queen's clothes, and weeping cried out " Gangâdhara is dead!" The servant sent from the palace, thinking that Gangâdhara must be some impor- tant person, went crying to the Queen. The Queen believing that a relation of the king had died commenced to weep, her whole household joining in her lamentations—the king on enquiring the cause of his consort's grief received the same information that Gangâdhara was dead, whereupon, imagining that he was a relation of the Queen's, he joined in the general howling, in which he was assisted by all his court! When the truth was at last known, all were ashamed.
This is a humorous expression from a famous Telugu folk story (Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha). It is used to describe a situation where someone reveals a 'secret' or a piece of news that everyone already knows, or when someone states the obvious with unnecessary dramatic flair. In the story, the disciples try to hide a death that is already apparent to everyone.
వానలెక్కడ అంటే దానధర్మాలున్న ధరణిలో అన్నట్లు
vanalekkada ante danadharmalunna dharanilo annatlu
When asked 'Where does it rain?', the reply was 'In the land where charity and righteousness exist'.
This proverb suggests that natural blessings and prosperity occur where people are generous and virtuous. It is used to highlight the belief that the well-being of a society is a direct result of the collective goodness and charitable nature of its people.
త్యాగి గాని వాని ధర్మ మడుగవచ్చు.
tyagi gani vani dharma madugavachchu.
One can ask for charity from a person who is a giver (sacrificer).
This proverb implies that there is no point in seeking help or charity from a miserly person. One should approach a person with a generous heart (Tyagi) if they expect to receive help or perform a righteous deed. It emphasizes seeking out the right person for the right cause.
చిన్నత్త చిన్న పిశాచి, పెద్దత్త పెద్ద పిశాచి
chinnatta chinna pishachi, peddatta pedda pishachi
Younger mother-in-law is a small ghost, elder mother-in-law is a big ghost.
This proverb is used to describe a difficult situation where both available options or people are troublesome, regardless of their status or seniority. It specifically highlights the common domestic trope of friction with mothers-in-law (or aunts), suggesting that both are equally difficult to deal with, differing only in the scale of their nuisance.
మౌనం అర్ధాంగీకారం
maunam ardhangikaram
Silence is half-acceptance
This expression is used to suggest that if a person remains silent when asked a question or confronted with a proposal, it can be interpreted as their tacit approval or partial agreement. It implies that silence serves as a substitute for a 'yes' when no objection is voiced.
విశాఖ పట్టితే పిశాచి పట్టినట్లు
vishakha pattite pishachi pattinatlu
If the Vishakha star catches you, it is like being caught by a ghost.
This is an astrological saying referring to the Vishakha Nakshatra. It suggests that individuals under the influence of this star can be extremely stubborn, persistent, or difficult to deal with, much like an obsession or a haunting spirit that doesn't let go easily. It is used to describe someone's relentless nature or a streak of bad luck that feels inescapable.