చెట్టు ఎక్కించి నిచ్చెన తీసేసినట్లు

chettu ekkinchi nichchena tisesinatlu

Translation

Making a man mount a tree and then taking away the ladder. Treachery. Breach of faith.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone encourages or helps another person to take a risk or reach a certain position, only to abandon them or withdraw support once they are vulnerable. It signifies betrayal or leaving someone in a helpless situation after leading them into it.

Related Phrases

Mounting a ladder with a jar of ghî in one's arms.

This expression refers to undertaking a task that is extremely precarious and demands absolute focus. Just as one must be incredibly careful not to spill the precious ghee or fall while climbing a ladder, this phrase is used to describe a situation where even a small mistake could lead to a significant loss or failure.

Like trying to lean a ladder against Vempali plants.

The Vempali (Wild Indigo) is a small, weak-stemmed shrub that cannot support any weight. This expression is used to describe a futile effort or an impossible task where someone tries to rely on something that lacks the necessary strength or foundation. It signifies misplaced effort or depending on an unreliable source.

A man who plants a ladder on the sky. Ambitious.

This expression refers to someone who is extremely over-ambitious or unrealistic. It describes a person who makes impossible plans or harbors grand illusions that have no basis in reality. It is often used to mock someone's impractical or 'sky-high' aspirations.

Like placing a ladder to the sky

This expression is used to describe an impossible task or highly unrealistic and overambitious plans. It refers to a person having 'lofty' ideas or goals that are practically unattainable, similar to the English idiom 'reaching for the stars' but often with a connotation of futility or sarcasm.

Like making someone climb a tree and then taking away the ladder.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone encourages or helps another person to start a difficult task or take a risk, but then abandons them or removes their support once they are in a vulnerable position. It signifies betrayal or leaving someone in the lurch.

Like climbing a ladder while holding a pot of ghee in hand.

This expression describes a situation where someone is performing a very delicate or risky task that requires extreme caution. Since a pot of ghee is slippery and heavy, and a ladder is unstable, it signifies taking on a precarious responsibility where even a small mistake could lead to a total loss or a fall.

Like taking the bark off a stone.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is trying to achieve something impossible or attempting to extract something from a source that has nothing to give. It characterizes a task that is extremely difficult, futile, or involves dealing with a very stubborn and heartless person.

To milk a he goat. (Latin.)*

To put a ladder to the sky

This expression is used to describe a person who is highly over-ambitious or someone who attempts an impossible task. It refers to a dreamer who thinks of unrealistic or unattainable goals.

Like placing a ladder against a Vempali plant.

The Vempali (Wild Indigo) is a very small, thin shrub that grows only a few feet high. Placing a ladder against it is absurd and impossible. This proverb is used to describe someone attempting a completely unnecessary or disproportionately large effort for a tiny task, or trying to do something that is logically impossible due to the nature of the object involved.

Like building ladders to heaven

This expression is used to describe an impossible, overly ambitious, or highly impractical task. It refers to a person having grand ideas or making plans that are far beyond their actual reach or capability.