చావుకు వెరచి చాటుకు వెళ్తే, మిత్తి వచ్చి ముందర కూర్చున్నదట

chavuku verachi chatuku velte, mitti vachchi mundara kurchunnadata

Translation

When one hid fearing death, the deity of death came and sat right in front.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone tries to avoid a specific problem or danger, only to find themselves facing an even bigger problem or the exact same fate they were trying to escape. It is similar to the English expression 'Out of the frying pan into the fire.'

Related Phrases

Like coming for milk but hiding the vessel.

This proverb is used to describe a person who approaches someone for help or with a specific purpose but hesitates to speak their mind or hides their true intentions due to shyness, false pride, or unnecessary secrecy. It highlights the irony of wanting something while being too secretive to ask for it.

Does death have a death?

This expression is used to signify that something is eternal, inevitable, or that a particular cycle or entity cannot be destroyed. It often implies that a fundamental reality or a recurring problem cannot be ended or killed off simply.

" When a man gets up and sits on a man, the weight kills me" said he. A stupid lout was persuaded by his wife to go and hear the Rāmāyaṇa read as she thought it might improve his mind. While standing leaning his head on his stick, a scamp got upon his shoulders and sat there. The blockhead thought this was a necessary part of the performance. When he returned home he was asked how he liked the Rāmāyaṇa and replied as above.

This proverb is used to mock people who pretend to be overworked or burdened when they are actually doing very little or carrying something weightless. It highlights the irony of those who complain about trivial efforts as if they were monumental tasks.

When asked where he forgot the water pot, he said 'This side of where I sat for water'; when asked where he sat for water, he said 'That side of where I put the pot'.

This proverb describes a situation of circular reasoning or giving evasive, useless answers. It is used to mock someone who provides explanations that lead back to the starting point without providing any actual information or solving the problem.

Begging for milk and hiding his cup.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone approaches another person for help or a favor but is too hesitant, shy, or secretive to state their actual need. It highlights the irony of intending to ask for something while concealing the very tool or reason needed to receive it.

Poverty and pride.

When they said 'Me-me' (bleating), he went and sat on the terrace.

This proverb is used to describe someone who takes a suggestion or a sound too literally or acts with over-enthusiasm based on a misunderstanding. In Telugu, 'Me-me' is the sound a goat makes, but it can also be misinterpreted as 'Me' (upstairs/above) in certain dialects or contexts. It mocks someone who behaves foolishly by jumping to conclusions or seeking a higher status without cause.

You come and go, you ruined my house; now your son has come and sat down.

This expression is used to describe a situation where one person's troublesome actions or visits were already causing problems, and now their successor or children have arrived to make matters even worse. It signifies an escalation of nuisance or misfortune brought upon by a specific lineage or group.

Achi's wedding ended up leading to Buchi's death.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a celebration or a positive event unintentionally leads to a disaster or a tragic outcome for someone else. It highlights the irony of a festive occasion turning into a cause for sorrow due to unforeseen circumstances or mismanagement.

A crow's death, Kanakamma's death

This expression is used to describe a death or an event that goes unnoticed and unmourned by anyone. It highlights the insignificance of an individual's passing, suggesting that just as no one cries for a common crow, no one cares about the departure of a person who had no social standing or meaningful connections.

Achi's wedding led to Buchi's death

This proverb is used to describe a situation where one person's celebration or positive event unexpectedly results in trouble or a disaster for someone else. It highlights unintended negative consequences or a stroke of bad luck occurring simultaneously with a good event.