బెదిరించి బెదిరించి బెల్లపు కుండకు తూటు పొడిచినదట.
bedirinchi bedirinchi bellapu kundaku tutu podichinadata.
All her threats ended in making a hole in the molasses pot.
This proverb describes someone who makes empty threats or creates a big fuss without any actual courage or intelligence, but eventually ends up causing damage to something valuable (like a pot of jaggery) out of sheer clumsiness or frustration. It is used to mock people who act tough but only manage to ruin their own interests or perform counter-productive actions.
Related Phrases
ఊరించి ఊరించి ఉగాదినాడు బూరె ఇచ్చెనట.
urinchi urinchi ugadinadu bure ichchenata.
After teasing and tempting for a long time, a sweet (boore) was given on Ugadi festival day.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone makes a lot of promises or creates great anticipation over a long period, only to deliver something very small or basic that would have been expected anyway. It highlights the mismatch between the hype created and the eventual meager result.
ఓదెకట్టె దొంగ పరిగ ఏరేవానిని బెదిరించినట్లు
odekatte donga pariga erevanini bedirinchinatlu
Like a thief who stole a bundle of grain scaring away a person picking up leftovers.
This proverb describes a situation where someone committing a major crime or mistake tries to intimidate or act superior towards someone doing something trivial or harmless. It highlights the hypocrisy of a big offender trying to find fault in a minor act to cover their own tracks or assert false authority.
చలిపందిటి కుండలకు తూట్లు పొడిచినట్టు.
chalipanditi kundalaku tutlu podichinattu.
Like making holes in the pots in a water-shed. The water-shed in India corresponds to the drinking-fountain in Europe. A despicable trick.
This expression describes a person who causes harm to a charitable or public service that benefits everyone. It refers to a person who, instead of being grateful for a free water station (chalivendram/chalipandiri) meant for thirsty travelers, maliciously damages the pots. It is used to characterize acts of senseless vandalism or mean-spirited sabotage against common good.
బెదిరించి బెండకాయ పులుసు పోసినట్లు
bedirinchi bendakaya pulusu posinatlu
Like threatening someone and then serving them okra stew.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone makes a huge scene, uses intimidation, or creates a lot of hype, only to deliver a very mild, disappointing, or underwhelming result. It highlights the anticlimactic gap between a fierce threat and a harmless outcome.
కుంటి చేతులవాడు నువ్వులు తినని, బెదిరించినట్లు.
kunti chetulavadu nuvvulu tinani, bedirinchinatlu.
Like a man with handicapped hands threatening that he won't eat sesame seeds.
This proverb describes a situation where someone tries to make a threat or a 'sacrifice' that they are physically incapable of doing anyway. Since a person with handicapped or paralyzed hands cannot pick up tiny sesame seeds to eat them, threatening to 'boycott' eating them is meaningless and laughable. It is used to mock someone making empty threats or pretending to abstain from something they can't have in the first place.
దయ్యం బెదిరితేనే వరమిస్తుంది
dayyam bediritene varamistundi
The ghost grants a boon only if it is threatened.
This expression is used to describe people who are stubborn, cruel, or difficult to deal with, and who will only cooperate or do a favor when they are threatened or intimidated rather than requested politely.
గుడ్డిది బెదిరిస్తే, బిత్తరపోయి బావిలో పడినాడంట
guddidi bediriste, bittarapoyi bavilo padinadanta
When a blind person threatened, he got terrified and fell into the well.
This proverb is used to describe someone who gets unnecessarily scared of an empty threat or a powerless person. It highlights the foolishness of panicking and causing one's own downfall when there was no real danger to begin with.
బెదిరించి బెదిరించి బెల్లపు కుండకు తూటు పొడిచిందట
bedirinchi bedirinchi bellapu kundaku tutu podichindata
After making many threats, she finally poked a hole in the jaggery pot.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone makes a lot of noise, threats, or fuss, but ends up doing something trivial, foolish, or counterproductive. It highlights the disparity between a big buildup and a disappointing or silly outcome.
చేటను కొట్టి పిల్లిని బెదరించినట్లు.
chetanu kotti pillini bedarinchinatlu.
Like hitting the winnowing tray to scare away the cat.
This proverb describes a situation where someone attempts to intimidate a powerful or stubborn opponent using weak, ineffective, or indirect methods. Just as a cat isn't truly frightened by the sound of a winnowing basket being struck, the person being targeted is unlikely to be moved by such empty threats or superficial actions.
చలిపందిరి కుండలకు తూట్లు పొడిచినట్లు
chalipandiri kundalaku tutlu podichinatlu
Like poking holes in the pots of a free water-shed.
This expression describes acts of senseless mischief or malice that harm the public good without any benefit to the perpetrator. A 'Chali-pandiri' is a traditional shed where free drinking water is offered to travelers; destroying these pots represents an especially mean-spirited act of sabotage against a selfless service.