బిచ్చము వేయకున్నా మానెగాని, కుక్కను కట్టివేయమన్నట్లు
bichchamu veyakunna manegani, kukkanu kattiveyamannatlu
It's fine if you don't give alms, but please tie up the dog.
This proverb is used when someone, instead of helping, creates further obstacles or trouble. It describes a situation where a person seeking help is willing to forgo the assistance as long as the other person stops causing additional harm or annoyance.
Related Phrases
దున్నపోతు ఈనిందంటే, దూడను కట్టేయమన్నట్టు
dunnapotu inindante, dudanu katteyamannattu
When someone says the male buffalo has given birth, asking to tie up the calf.
This proverb describes a situation where someone blindly believes or acts upon a piece of information that is logically impossible or absurd. It is used to mock people who lack common sense or those who follow instructions without questioning their validity, even when the premise (a male buffalo giving birth) is clearly false.
అరువు అంటే, ఆరు ఏనుగులు కట్టివేయమన్నట్లు.
aruvu ante, aru enugulu kattiveyamannatlu.
If it is on credit, it is like asking to tie up six elephants.
This proverb highlights how people tend to be reckless or extravagant when they don't have to pay immediately. It describes a situation where someone makes unreasonable demands or over-consumes simply because the goods or services are provided on credit (aruvu).
సింహము ఏనుగును చంపునేగాని, చచ్చిన కుక్కను తినునా?
simhamu enugunu champunegani, chachchina kukkanu tinuna?
A lion will kill an elephant, but will it eat a dead dog ? A noble-minded man is above mean actions.
This expression highlights self-respect and dignity. It means that a person of high stature, great talent, or noble character would rather face great challenges or suffer in silence than stoop to something base, inferior, or dishonorable just for the sake of survival or convenience.
అందులో పస లేకపోయినా, అరలో మంచం వేయమన్నట్లు
andulo pasa lekapoyina, aralo mancham veyamannatlu
Even if there is no essence in it, asking to lay a bed in the inner room.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone demands high honors, special arrangements, or grand treatment despite the underlying matter or person having no real substance, value, or quality. It highlights the irony of expecting luxury for something worthless.
ఎద్దు ఈనిందంటే గాట కట్టివేయమన్నట్లు
eddu inindante gata kattiveyamannatlu
When someone says the ox has given birth, asking to tie the calf to the stake.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone blindly follows or supports a baseless or illogical statement without thinking. Since oxen are male and cannot give birth, the response of 'tying the calf' shows a lack of common sense and a tendency to jump to conclusions based on hearsay.
తిన్న కుక్క తినిపోతే, కన్న కుక్కను కట్టేసినారంట.
tinna kukka tinipote, kanna kukkanu kattesinaranta.
While the dog that ate the food ran away, they tied up the dog that saw it happen.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the actual culprit or wrongdoer escapes, and an innocent bystander or a witness is unfairly blamed or punished for the deed. It highlights a failure of justice or a mistake in identifying the true offender.
కాలికి రాని చెప్పును కంచెలో వేయమన్నారు
kaliki rani cheppunu kanchelo veyamannaru
They said to throw the footwear that doesn't fit the foot into the hedge.
This proverb suggests that if something is not useful or suitable for its intended purpose—no matter how valuable it might seem—it should be discarded. It is often used in the context of relationships, jobs, or possessions that cause more discomfort than utility, advising one to move on from things that don't fit their life.
దున్న ఈనినదంటే, దూడను గాట కట్టి వేయమన్నట్లు
dunna ininadante, dudanu gata katti veyamannatlu
When someone says the male buffalo has given birth, the other person asks to tie the calf to the peg.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone blindly believes or agrees with an absurdity without using any logic or common sense. It highlights the foolishness of following a false statement with an even more irrational action.
ఏనుగులను అప్పుగా ఇస్తున్నారంటే, రెండు తోలుకొని వచ్చి కట్టివేయమన్నాడట.
enugulanu appuga istunnarante, rendu tolukoni vachchi kattiveyamannadata.
When told that elephants were being given as loans, he asked to bring two of them and tie them up.
This proverb describes a person's extreme greed and lack of foresight. It refers to someone who accepts anything offered for free or as a loan—even something as expensive and difficult to maintain as an elephant—without considering whether they can afford the upkeep or repay the debt. It is used to mock people who blindly take things just because they are available, ignoring the future consequences.
నీ ముష్టి లేకపోతే మానెగాని, నీ కుక్కను కట్టివెయ్యి.
ni mushti lekapote manegani, ni kukkanu kattiveyyi.
If there are no alms for me, never mind, but tie up your dog.
This proverb is used to tell someone that if they cannot help or be generous, they should at least refrain from causing harm or creating obstacles. It is typically applied when someone's interference or negative attitude is more problematic than their lack of assistance.
Said by a beggar.