చెప్పు కింద తేలు
cheppu kinda telu
A scorpion under a shoe. A ruffian under restraint.
This expression refers to a constant, imminent, and dangerous threat that is extremely close at hand. It is used to describe a situation or a person that causes perpetual anxiety because they can cause harm at any moment, yet they are currently suppressed or nearby.
Related Phrases
ఒకరి వద్ద సుఖదుఃఖాలు చెప్పుకున్నట్లు.
okari vadda sukhaduhkhalu cheppukunnatlu.
Like sharing one's joys and sorrows with someone.
This expression refers to the act of confiding in someone, sharing personal experiences, both good and bad. It is often used to describe deep conversations or the bonding that occurs when people share their life's ups and downs with a trusted person.
రోలు వెళ్లి మద్దెలతో మొరపెట్టుకున్నట్లు
rolu velli maddelato morapettukunnatlu
The mortar complaining to the drum. The mortar is beaten on one side ( by the pestle )—the drum is beaten on both sides.
This expression is used to describe a situation where one person seeks sympathy for their troubles from someone who is actually suffering even more. In the metaphor, the mortar is hit on one side, but the drum (maddela) is beaten on both sides. It highlights the irony of complaining to someone in a worse position.
చెప్పుడు మాటలు చేటు.
cheppudu matalu chetu.
Listening to hearsay leads to ruin.
This expression warns against acting upon rumors or gossip without verification. It suggests that paying heed to malicious talk or the instigations of others will ultimately lead to one's own downfall or harm.
కోతికి తేలు కుట్టినట్లు
kotiki telu kuttinatlu
Like a monkey bitten by a scorpion
This expression is used to describe a person who is naturally restless or mischievous, but becomes even more hyperactive, erratic, or uncontrollable due to a specific provocation or situation. It highlights a state of extreme agitation added to an already unstable personality.
నవ్వ చెప్పేవాడు చెడ జెప్పును, యేడవ చెప్పేవాడు బ్రతక చెప్పును.
navva cheppevadu cheda jeppunu, yedava cheppevadu brataka cheppunu.
He who speaks to make you laugh, speaks to your ruin; he who speaks to make you weep, speaks to your profit. A friend's frown is better than a fool's smile.
This proverb highlights the difference between a sycophant and a true well-wisher. Someone who always tells you what you want to hear (making you laugh/happy) might be leading you toward a downfall by ignoring your mistakes. In contrast, a true friend or mentor who criticizes you or tells you harsh truths (making you cry/sad) actually helps you improve and succeed in life.
గొడ్రాలికి ఏమి తెలుసును బిడ్డ నెప్పులు
godraliki emi telusunu bidda neppulu
What does the barren woman know of the pains of child- birth ?
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who hasn't personally experienced a specific hardship or responsibility cannot truly understand the pain or effort involved. It is often cited when someone offers unsolicited advice or criticism about a struggle they have never faced.
చెప్పలు ఉన్నా చెప్పులు తెగినా చుట్టరికం తప్పదు
cheppalu unna cheppulu tegina chuttarikam tappadu
Whether you have wealth or your sandals are torn, kinship cannot be avoided.
This proverb highlights that family relationships and kinship obligations remain constant regardless of one's financial status. Whether a person is wealthy (symbolized by having possessions) or poor (symbolized by torn footwear), they must still maintain their social and familial ties.
అల్లుని గుడ్డి తెల్లారితే తెలుస్తుంది
alluni guddi tellarite telustundi
The son-in-law's blindness will be revealed once it's morning.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a major defect or a harsh truth cannot be hidden for long, no matter how much one tries to conceal it initially. Just as a son-in-law might hide his vision problems during the night of the wedding, the truth inevitably comes to light when circumstances change (daylight). It is applied to deceptive situations or hidden flaws that are bound to be exposed eventually.
నిప్పుకు చెదలు పట్టింది - నల్లికి తేలు కుట్టింది.
nippuku chedalu pattindi - nalliki telu kuttindi.
Termites infested the fire - a scorpion stung the bedbug.
This expression is used to describe highly improbable, impossible, or absurd situations. It highlights events that defy logic, as termites cannot survive in fire and a tiny bedbug being stung by a scorpion is a comical exaggeration of misfortune or weirdness.
రేగుచెట్టు కింద చెవిటి గుడ్డివాని వలె
reguchettu kinda cheviti guddivani vale
Like the deaf blind man under the Rêgu tree. The story runs as follows :—A deaf blind man insisted on being taken to a comedy, and begged his friends to nudge him when anything very amusing was acted so that he might laugh. They pretended to agree to this, but left him half way under a Rêgu tree, telling him that the per- formance was going on there. He sat there all night laughing whenever the slender branches of the tree, moved by the wind, touched him.
This expression describes a situation where a person is completely unaware of the opportunities or resources available right in front of them. When berries fall from the jujube tree, a blind person cannot see them and a deaf person cannot hear them fall, thus they miss out on the fruit despite being right under the tree. It is used to mock someone who lacks the awareness or senses to benefit from their immediate environment.