బండి చక్రం పిల్లి కాలు తొక్కితే, పిల్లి ఎలుకపై మీసాలు దువ్వినదట
bandi chakram pilli kalu tokkite, pilli elukapai misalu duvvinadata
When a cart wheel ran over a cat's leg, the cat twirled its whiskers at a mouse.
This proverb describes a situation where someone who is hurt or humiliated by a superior or an uncontrollable force vents their frustration and displays false bravado toward someone weaker than them. It highlights the tendency to deflect anger onto subordinates instead of addressing the actual source of the problem.
Related Phrases
మానుపిల్లి అయినా, మట్టి పిల్లి అయినా, ఎలుకను పట్టినదే పిల్లి
manupilli ayina, matti pilli ayina, elukanu pattinade pilli
A cat which kills a rat is a cat, whether it be of wood or mud. If the work be well done, never mind the instrument.
This expression emphasizes pragmatism and results over appearance or origin. It suggests that the value of someone or something should be judged by their ability to perform their intended task or achieve a goal, rather than their outward characteristics or status.
ఈ పిల్లి ఆ పాలు తాగునా?
i pilli a palu taguna?
Would this cat have drunk that milk ?
This is a sarcastic rhetorical question used to describe a person who pretends to be innocent, modest, or naive, while actually being quite the opposite. It is used when someone acts as if they are too good or too shy to do something that they are secretly very capable of or already doing.
A demure humbug.
అస్తమానం అరిచే పిల్లి ఎలుకను పట్టదు
astamanam ariche pilli elukanu pattadu
A cat that meows all the time cannot catch a mouse.
This proverb is similar to 'Barking dogs seldom bite.' It describes people who talk excessively or boast constantly about their intentions but fail to take actual action or achieve results. It implies that those who are busy making noise are usually not focused on the work at hand.
బావురుపిల్లికి చిలుకపై మొగమాటమా
bavurupilliki chilukapai mogamatama
Does a wild cat have hesitation/mercy toward a parrot?
This expression is used to describe a situation where a powerful or predatory person will not hesitate to exploit a vulnerable victim. It implies that it is foolish to expect mercy or formal politeness (mogamatam) from someone whose nature is to be ruthless or greedy.
దుడ్డు దుగ్గాని లేని నా బట్ట, దువ్వింది దువ్విందే.
duddu duggani leni na batta, duvvindi duvvinde.
My clothes, without even a single coin, are combed and groomed over and over.
This expression refers to a person who has no money or assets but is excessively concerned with outward appearances or vanity. It is used to describe someone who spends time grooming themselves or acting 'grand' despite being in poverty or lacking basic resources.
పిల్లికి బిచ్చం పెట్టనివాడు, లోకానికి ఉపకారం చేస్తాడా?
pilliki bichcham pettanivadu, lokaniki upakaram chestada?
Will he who doesn't even feed a cat, do good to the world?
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely stingy or miserly. It suggests that if someone lacks the basic empathy or generosity to perform a small, simple act of kindness (like giving food to a cat), they are certainly not going to do anything significant or charitable for society at large.
పిల్లికి ఎలుక సాక్ష్యం
pilliki eluka sakshyam
A rat testifying for a cat.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a culprit or an untrustworthy person produces a witness who is equally biased, unreliable, or under their control. It signifies a deceptive alliance where the witness is unlikely to speak the truth against the perpetrator.
ఎలుకకు పిల్లి సాక్షి
elukaku pilli sakshi
The cat a witness in the rat's case. Interested evidence. A fox should not be of the jury at a goose trial.
This expression is used to describe a situation where two parties who are naturally biased or complicit with each other stand as witnesses for one another. It implies that the testimony is untrustworthy because both parties have a mutual interest or are equally corrupt, much like how a cat and mouse 'working together' would be an absurdity or a conspiracy.
ఇంటి పిల్లికి పొరుగింటి పిల్లి తోడు
inti pilliki poruginti pilli todu
The neighbour's cat is the ally of the house cat. Both join in mischief.
This expression is used to describe a situation where two people, often who should be at odds or are expected to be rivals, secretly collaborate or help each other for mutual benefit. It is frequently used to highlight how internal and external parties might conspire together, often in a negative or mischievous context.
పాలు తాగని పిల్లి ఉంటుందా?
palu tagani pilli untunda?
Is there a cat that doesn't drink milk?
This rhetorical question is used to describe a situation where someone is naturally or inevitably tempted by something they love. It is often applied when someone pretends to be disinterested in something they actually desire, or to imply that it is impossible for a person to resist a specific, habitual temptation.