చన్నీళ్ళకు వేన్నీళ్ళు తోడు
channillaku vennillu todu
Hot water added to cold water
This expression is used to describe a situation where two people or things provide mutual support, even if one's contribution is small. It often refers to a husband and wife or partners helping each other to make life more comfortable and manageable, just as mixing hot and cold water results in a pleasant temperature.
Related Phrases
చన్నీళ్లయినా చల్లార్చుకుని తాగాలి
channillayina challarchukuni tagali
Even cold water should be drunk slowly.
This expression advises extreme caution and patience. It suggests that even when a situation seems safe or simple, one should still act with care and verify everything before proceeding, rather than acting in haste.
There is a pun here on the word చల్లాచుకోని which also means "having cooled." Nothing should be done hastily. Good and quickly seldom meet. Haste trips up its own heels.
వేణ్ణీళ్ళకు చన్నీళ్ళు తోడైనట్టు
vennillaku channillu todainattu
Like adding cold water to hot water
This expression is used to describe a situation where a small amount of help or contribution is added to a larger effort. It signifies how even a minor assistance can complement or complete a task, much like how cold water helps bring boiling water to a usable temperature.
వేడినీళ్లకు చన్నీళ్లు, చన్నీళ్లకు వేడినీళ్లు.
vedinillaku channillu, channillaku vedinillu.
Cold water to hot water, hot water to cold water. The beneficial union of different dispositions.
This expression is used to describe mutual assistance or small contributions that complement each other. Just as mixing hot and cold water brings them to a comfortable temperature, it signifies how people help one another according to their capacity, or how small favors are returned to maintain balance in relationships.
ఇంటి వెనకాలకు వెళ్లి ఇల్లు ముందుకు తెచ్చినట్టు
inti venakalaku velli illu munduku techchinattu
He brought the house forward by going behind it. Said jokingly of a man who professed to have improved the family prospects.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone performs a task in a needlessly complicated, roundabout, or illogical manner. It refers to wasting effort on an impossible or unnecessarily difficult way of doing something that should be simple.
పెళ్ళికి వెళుతు పిల్లిని చంకన పెట్టుకు వెళ్ళినట్టు.
pelliki velutu pillini chankana pettuku vellinattu.
Taking a cat along while going to a wedding.
This refers to doing something inauspicious or undesirable. It is an unwanted burden and might lead to undesirable results.
వేడినీళ్ళకు ఇల్లు కాలునా?
vedinillaku illu kaluna?
Can hot water burn down a house?
This expression is used to signify that small or insignificant threats/actions cannot cause major destruction or harm. Just as hot water is not hot enough to set a wooden house on fire, minor annoyances or weak attempts at harm cannot destroy something substantial or well-established.
తనువు వెళ్ళినా దినము వెళ్ళదు
tanuvu vellina dinamu velladu
Even if the body leaves, the day does not pass.
This expression is used to describe a state of extreme suffering or boredom where time feels agonizingly slow. It suggests that while one's life or strength might be fading away, the day itself feels endless and difficult to get through.
వేడి నీళ్ళ పక్కన చన్నీళ్ళు ఉండాలి.
vedi nilla pakkana channillu undali.
Cold water should be alongside hot water.
This expression suggests that opposites or different temperaments are needed to maintain balance. In a social or domestic context, it implies that if one person is hot-tempered (hot water), another person should be calm and patient (cold water) to prevent conflict and bring stability.
ఆలులేని బడాయి నీళ్ళు తోడమన్నట్లు.
aluleni badayi nillu todamannatlu.
Like a man who boasts without having a wife, asking her to draw water.
This proverb is used to describe someone who makes grand, empty boasts or gives orders based on things they don't actually possess. It highlights the absurdity of pretending to have authority or status when the foundation for it is missing.
ముందు వెళ్ళేవాళ్లకు మూకిళ్ళు, వెనుక వెళ్ళేవాళ్లకు నాకిళ్ళు
mundu vellevallaku mukillu, venuka vellevallaku nakillu
Mouth-pots for those who go first, and licks for those who follow.
This proverb highlights the disadvantage of procrastination or being late. Those who arrive early get the full portion of a meal (served in pots), while those who arrive late are left with only the leftovers to lick from the vessels. It is used to encourage punctuality and promptness.