బతకలేక బావిలో పడితే, తీయబోయినవాడు కయ్యలో పడ్డాడట
batakaleka bavilo padite, tiyaboyinavadu kayyalo paddadata
When a person unable to survive jumped into a well, the person who went to rescue him fell into a ditch.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone's attempt to help a person in deep trouble results in a bigger disaster or misfortune for the helper themselves. It highlights ironical outcomes where the rescuer ends up in a worse position than the person needing help, or where a bad situation simply compounds into a comedy of errors.
Related Phrases
గొడ్డులేనివాడు బిడ్డలేనివాడు ఒకటి.
goddulenivadu biddalenivadu okati.
A person without cattle and a person without children are the same.
In traditional agrarian societies, cattle were considered as vital as family members for one's livelihood and legacy. This expression highlights the essential role of livestock in prosperity, implying that lacking them is as significant a loss as not having heirs to carry on the family name or support the household.
హాస్యగాడు బావిలో పడిన తంతు.
hasyagadu bavilo padina tantu.
The incident of the comedian falling into a well.
This expression refers to a situation where a serious problem or a genuine mishap is mistaken for a joke or a prank because of the person involved. It is used when someone's past behavior (like constant joking) causes others to ignore their genuine cries for help, or when a situation is handled with lack of seriousness until it is too late.
ఆవిలాటలో పడినవాడూ అగడ్తలో పడినవాడూ ఒకటే
avilatalo padinavadu agadtalo padinavadu okate
The one who falls into a whirlpool and the one who falls into a moat are both the same.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where two different paths or choices lead to the same unfortunate result. It suggests that whether a problem is caused by nature (whirlpool) or man-made (moat), the consequence of being trapped or ruined remains identical.
ఆలి మాట విన్నవాడు, అడవిలో పడ్డవాడు ఒకటే.
ali mata vinnavadu, adavilo paddavadu okate.
The one who listens to his wife and the one who falls in a forest are the same.
This proverb is traditionally used to caution men against being overly influenced or swayed by their wife's advice, suggesting that it leads to being lost or helpless, similar to being stranded in a wilderness. It is often used in a humorous or cautionary context regarding domestic decision-making.
లేనివాడు పుడమి లేనివాడు.
lenivadu pudami lenivadu.
One who has not is as one who is not in the world. i. e. A penniless man has nothing in the world.
This proverb highlights the harsh reality of social status and poverty. It suggests that a person without wealth or resources is often treated as if they have no place or belonging in the world, emphasizing how society values individuals based on their possessions.
పదిమందిలో పడ్డపాము చావదు
padimandilo paddapamu chavadu
A snake falling among a lot of people will not die. A bad man often escapes through the difference of opinion among others as to his guilt, as a snake does through the Hindu's super- stitious dread of killing it.
This proverb describes a situation where a task remains unfinished because too many people are involved, but no one takes individual responsibility. When many people are present, everyone assumes someone else will handle the problem (in this case, killing the snake), leading to inaction. It is equivalent to the English idiom 'Too many cooks spoil the broth' or 'Everybody's business is nobody's business'.
బతకలేనమ్మ బావిలో పడి చచ్చిందట
batakalenamma bavilo padi chachchindata
The woman who couldn't live fell into a well and died.
This expression is used to mock someone who makes a dramatic scene or an empty threat out of laziness or a lack of will to face responsibilities. It highlights a situation where someone chooses an easy, albeit extreme, way out rather than putting in the effort to sustain their life or solve their problems.
లేనివాడు లేక ఏడిస్తే, ఉన్నవాడు తినలేక పడ్డాడట
lenivadu leka ediste, unnavadu tinaleka paddadata
While the one who has nothing cries because he lacks, the one who has everything suffers because he cannot eat it.
This proverb highlights that both poverty and wealth come with their own sets of problems. While a poor person suffers from deprivation, a rich person may suffer from health issues, greed, or the inability to enjoy their abundance. It is often used to describe situations where everyone has a grievance, regardless of their status.
పాతరలో పడ్డ కుక్కను తీయబోతే కరవవచ్చినట్లు
pataralo padda kukkanu tiyabote karavavachchinatlu
Like a dog that fell into a grain pit trying to bite the person coming to rescue it.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who is in a deep mess or trouble acts ungratefully or aggressively toward the person trying to help them. It refers to misplaced hostility from a person in a desperate situation.
బిడ్డ బావిలో పడ్డాడంటే, చద్దికూడు తిని వస్తానన్నాడట
bidda bavilo paddadante, chaddikudu tini vastanannadata
When told the child fell into the well, he said he would come after eating his leftovers.
This proverb describes someone who is extremely lazy, indifferent, or lacks a sense of urgency even in life-threatening or critical situations. It is used to criticize people who prioritize trivial personal comforts over immediate, serious responsibilities.