చెడు చెడు అనగానే, చెడేవారు లేరు.

chedu chedu anagane, chedevaru leru.

Translation

Just because someone says 'perish perish', nobody will actually perish.

Meaning

This expression means that people do not face ruin or downfall simply because others wish it upon them or speak ill of them. It is used to suggest that ill wishes, curses, or malicious talk from others lack the power to cause real harm to a person's life or destiny.

Related Phrases

There are many who preach the morals of Srirangam, but none who practice them.

This expression is used to describe hypocrites who give lofty moral advice to others but fail to follow it themselves. It is similar to the English proverb 'Practice what you preach' or 'Do as I say, not as I do.' It highlights the gap between words and actions.

There are many who complain/shout, but none who solve the problem.

This expression is used to describe a situation where many people are ready to point out problems, criticize, or complain loudly, but nobody is willing to take responsibility or provide a constructive solution.

There are many to say it's bad, but none to put something in the hand.

This proverb describes a situation where many people are ready to criticize one's poverty, struggles, or bad circumstances, but no one is willing to step forward and offer actual financial or material help. It is used to highlight the hypocrisy of society which offers criticism instead of support.

The salt seller was ruined, the pulse seller was ruined, and the betel leaf seller was completely ruined.

This proverb describes a chain reaction of financial or situational ruin. It illustrates how a delay or a specific failure can affect multiple people in a sequence. In the context of the folk story it originates from, a delay in a wedding or a meal caused the salt and lentils (perishables/goods) to go to waste, but the betel leaf seller suffered the most because those leaves wilt the fastest. It is used to describe situations where one person's misfortune or mistake leads to the downfall of everyone associated with the task.

Speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil

This is the Telugu version of the famous 'Three Wise Monkeys' principle. It serves as an ethical maxim advising people to lead a virtuous life by avoiding participation in, or exposure to, bad influences, gossip, and negativity.

The salt seller is ruined, the pulse vender is ruined, and the betel seller is entirely ruined.

This proverb is used to describe situations where a lack of unity or a delay in decision-making leads to the downfall of everyone involved. It specifically refers to how salt spoils lentils when mixed too early, but betel leaves, being highly perishable, ruin the fastest and most completely. It serves as a warning against indecision and the compounding nature of losses in a group.

When a man named Chennugadu was already ruining himself, someone asked to throw a handful more (of fuel or ruin) his way.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who is already on a path of self-destruction or making a big mistake is further encouraged or pushed toward total downfall by others. It is similar to the English concept of 'adding fuel to the fire' or 'kicking someone when they are down,' specifically in the context of witnessing an inevitable failure and accelerating it.

The name is spoilt by affection, the gait is spoilt by strutting. A child's proper name is corrupted into a familiar name as Sînayya for Srinivâsayya, Kakkâi for Kanakamma, &c.

This proverb warns against the dangers of over-indulgence and lack of discipline. It suggests that when a child or a person is overly coddled (muddu), they may lose their reputation, and when they are too pampered (muripamu), their behavior and character (nadupu) will deteriorate. It is used to emphasize the importance of moderation in affection and the need for discipline in upbringing.

Bad thoughts/ideas for bad times

This expression is used to describe a situation where a person starts making poor decisions or thinking negatively when they are going through a bad phase or facing a downfall. It suggests that one's intellect often fails or misleads them when their fortune is at its lowest.

There is no one to soothe, no one to resolve, and no one to lift you up if you fall to the bottom.

This expression describes a state of total helplessness and isolation. It is used when someone has no family, friends, or support system to offer comfort in grief, solve their problems, or help them recover from a downfall or financial crisis.