చూచిగాని త్రాగవలదు, చదివిగాని వ్రాలుంచవలదు

chuchigani tragavaladu, chadivigani vralunchavaladu

Translation

Do not drink without seeing, do not sign without reading.

Meaning

This proverb emphasizes the importance of caution and due diligence in everyday life. It advises that one should never consume something without inspecting it first (to ensure it is safe), and one should never sign a document without reading its contents thoroughly to understand the implications.

Related Phrases

When it was said let Achigadu die, it was Buchigadu who died.

This expression is used when a situation turns out contrary to expectations or when an unintended person suffers instead of the one who was supposed to. It highlights irony, bad luck, or the unpredictability of outcomes where the target remains safe but an innocent or different party is affected.

He neither dies nor gives up the mat.

This expression refers to a person who is neither performing a task nor stepping aside to let someone else do it. It is used to describe a stubborn or obstructive person who occupies a position or resource without being productive, effectively blocking progress for everyone else.

Do not drink without looking, do not sign without reading.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of caution and due diligence in one's actions. Just as one should inspect a drink for impurities or harmful substances before consuming it, one must thoroughly read and understand any document before signing it to avoid legal or personal trouble. It is a warning against impulsive or blind actions.

A monkey can break a coconut, but can it drink the water?

This proverb describes a situation where someone can easily destroy or disrupt something but lacks the skill, wisdom, or capability to actually benefit from it or handle the outcome. It is used to critique people who act impulsively or destructively without a plan for the final goal.

He would neither die nor give up his bed.

This expression is used to describe a situation or a person that is stuck in a state of limbo, causing prolonged distress or inconvenience to others. It refers to a problem that doesn't get resolved but continues to linger, or a person who occupies a position without being productive, preventing others from taking over.

We can neither die by catching it, nor can we die in the trap.

This expression describes a situation where one is stuck in a dilemma or an 'in-between' state where they cannot find a way out or a resolution. It is used when a person is frustrated because they can neither commit to a difficult task nor abandon it completely, often feeling trapped by circumstances.

A washerman is better than an educated person. The washerman, though illiterate, invariably distinguishes the clothes belonging to different people by putting certain marks on them, but many of the educated cannot discern between good and evil.

This proverb is used to criticize an educated person who lacks common sense or practical wisdom. It implies that practical knowledge and a sensible approach to life (often attributed to simple workers like a washerman) are more valuable than formal education without the ability to apply it properly or behave appropriately.

She is not his mate but his fate. ( See Vēmana Book II, 15. )

This expression is used to describe someone who lacks any skills or usefulness, or to mock a person's poor handwriting or lack of character. It is often used humorously or critically to point out that something isn't what it's supposed to be, or that someone is incompetent in their role.

Gutttam chavalam, jinu mucchavalam.

This is a traditional rhyming proverb or a playful expression often used to describe someone who is overly decorated or dressed up without real substance, or to mock someone who puts on a grand show with little results. It refers to the fancy saddle and decorations on a horse that might not be of great quality itself. It is also used in children's games or folk songs to maintain a rhythmic cadence.

A man will not build a hut until he has been drenched, nor stoop until he has hit his head.

This proverb describes a stubborn or negligent person who only learns from painful personal experience rather than foresight or advice. It is used to describe someone who waits for a disaster to happen before taking necessary precautions or changing their ways.