చూచినది పాము, కరిచినది మామిడి టెంక.
chuchinadi pamu, karichinadi mamidi tenka.
What he saw was a snake, that which bit him was a mango stone. After seeing the snake, he had trodden on a split mango stone which nipped his toe. Flabbergasted with fright.
This expression is used to describe situations where a person mistakenly attributes an event or injury to a false cause due to fear or paranoia. It refers to someone who sees a snake, gets startled, and then feels a sharp pain caused by stepping on a mango seed, wrongly concluding that the snake bit them. It highlights how fear can distort one's perception of reality.
Related Phrases
ఎండు మామిడి టెంకలు మొలలో పెట్టుకొని ఎవరి తాడు తెంప వచ్చావురా వీరన్నా అన్నదట!
endu mamidi tenkalu molalo pettukoni evari tadu tempa vachchavura viranna annadata!
Whom have you come to cheat with dried mango stones in your skirt? O Viranna! A glutton attempted to get more food from a cateress after he had eaten the ordinary meal at the fixed rate; she refused, adding—by way of excuse— that she had no more condiments and could only give him plain rice and buttermilk. Not to be done in this way, he came again with dried pickled mangoes hidden in his cloth. Tādu tempu means literally to break the cord, i. e. to make a widow
This is a sarcastic Telugu proverb used to mock someone who puts on a grand show of bravery or strength despite having no real resources or capabilities. It refers to a person who lacks even basic weapons (carrying useless mango pits instead) but claims to be a hero capable of defeating others. It is used when someone makes empty threats or shows off without substance.
చేసినది జపము, వేసినది గాలము
chesinadi japamu, vesinadi galamu
Performing prayers, while casting a fishing hook.
This proverb describes hypocrisy or ulterior motives. It refers to a person who pretends to be engaged in a holy or selfless act (like chanting prayers) while actually focusing on a selfish or harmful scheme (like catching fish). It is used to describe someone whose outward actions look pious, but whose intentions are purely exploitative.
వాడి పని గూట్లోకి వచ్చింది.
vadi pani gutloki vachchindi.
His business has come into the niche.
This expression is used to indicate that someone's time is up, or they have reached the end of their rope. It often implies that someone's mischievous deeds or a specific phase of their life/work is coming to an end, or that they are finally caught or cornered.
He is on his last legs.
చూచింది పాము, కరిచింది మామిడిటెంక
chuchindi pamu, karichindi mamiditenka
What was seen was a snake, but what bit was a mango stone.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is so overwhelmed by fear or a preconceived notion that they misinterpret a harmless event as a dangerous one. It highlights how psychological fear can make a person believe a disaster has occurred, even when the actual cause is trivial (like a sharp mango seed poking someone who thought they saw a snake).
రాజు మెచ్చినది మాట, మొగుడు మెచ్చినది రంభ.
raju mechchinadi mata, mogudu mechchinadi rambha.
That's the word, which pleases the king; she is Rambhâ, who is loved by her husband.
This proverb highlights the subjectivity of taste and authority. It means that power and personal affection define value. If a king approves of something, it becomes the rule or truth; similarly, if a man loves his wife, she is as beautiful as a celestial nymph (Rambha) to him, regardless of others' opinions.
వాడి పని తెల్లవారింది
vadi pani tellavarindi
His business has dawned.
This is a sarcastic or idiomatic expression used to mean that someone's business is finished, their secrets are out, or they have met their downfall. It often implies that someone's luck has run out or they have been caught in a situation from which they cannot recover.
He's blown up. He has shut up his shop windows.
వాడు ఆడినది ఆట, పాడినది పాట
vadu adinadi ata, padinadi pata
What he dances is a dance, what he sings is a song.
This expression is used to describe a person who holds absolute power, influence, or authority in a particular situation. It implies that the person can do whatever they want without any opposition, and others must follow their rules or whims.
ముందు వచ్చింది ముత్తైదువ, వెనుక వచ్చింది వెధవ
mundu vachchindi muttaiduva, venuka vachchindi vedhava
The first one was a wife, the last one was a widow. i. e. the first died while her husband was alive, the last was degraded to the position of a widow. Old things are thought much of, new ones are not valued.
This expression is used to highlight the importance of being early or punctual. It implies that the first person to arrive or the first effort made receives respect and good fortune, while being late or secondary leads to misfortune or a lack of value. It is often used in situations where priority determines quality or status.
ఉన్నది గట్టు, పోయినది పొట్టు
unnadi gattu, poyinadi pottu
What remains is the bank (solid ground), what is lost is the husk.
This expression is used to describe a situation where, after a loss or a filtering process, only the essential or valuable part remains while the useless or trivial part is gone. It is often used to console someone by pointing out that even if something was lost, the core strength or the most important asset is still intact.
గుడి పాము కరిచినట్టు, గంగిగోవు పొడిచినట్టు.
gudi pamu karichinattu, gangigovu podichinattu.
The bite of the temple-snake, the goring of the sacred cow. An injury is none the less, though it be inflicted by a relation or friend.
This proverb describes a situation where harm or trouble comes from a source that is expected to be harmless, sacred, or benevolent. It is used when someone you trust implicitly, or a place/person associated with goodness, unexpectedly causes you grief or injury.