దయ తలచి దాహమిస్తే, ఊళ్ళో కళ్ళి ఉడుకు అన్నట్లు.
daya talachi dahamiste, ullo kalli uduku annatlu.
When someone kindly gave water for thirst, they complained that the village's water-trough was boiling.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone shows kindness or helps another person, but the recipient, instead of being grateful, finds faults or makes unreasonable demands. It highlights extreme ingratitude and the habit of complaining even when receiving help.
Related Phrases
పేనుకు పెత్తనమిస్తే తలంతా తెగకొరికిందట
penuku pettanamiste talanta tegakorikindata
When power was given to a louse, it bit all over the head.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where an undeserving or small-minded person is given power or responsibility, and they end up causing significant harm or abusing that power. It highlights the dangers of entrusting authority to the wrong person.
Abuse of authority.
నీ పప్పూ, నా పొట్టూ కలిసి ఊదుకు తిందాం అన్నట్లు
ni pappu, na pottu kalisi uduku tindam annatlu
Like saying, 'Let's mix your lentils and my husk, blow on it, and eat.'
This proverb describes a situation where one person tries to strike a deal that is entirely one-sided or unfair. It refers to someone who wants to share in another person's valuable assets (lentils) while contributing something worthless (husk) of their own.
ఏనుగు దాహానికి చూరు నీళ్లా?
enugu dahaniki churu nilla?
Will the thirst of an elephant [ be quenched ] by the water which drops from the eaves ?
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a very small or insufficient resource is provided for a massive requirement. It highlights the inadequacy of a solution relative to the scale of the problem.
ఉరిసినచోట ఉడుకులు చల్లినట్లు.
urisinachota udukulu challinatlu.
Like pouring hot water on a raw, peeled wound.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone's suffering is aggravated by further misfortune or harsh words. It is similar to the English idiom 'to rub salt in the wound.' It refers to making a painful situation even more unbearable through insensitive actions or additional problems.
ఎంత ఉప్పదింటే అంత దాహం
enta uppadinte anta daham
The more salt you eat, the more thirst you feel.
This expression is used to describe how certain actions or desires lead to proportional consequences or further cravings. It implies that the more one indulges in a particular habit or greed, the more intense the subsequent need or consequence becomes. It is often used to warn against over-indulgence or to explain the natural outcome of a specific behavior.
లంకణాలలో మనుగుడుపుల తలచుకున్నట్లు
lankanalalo manugudupula talachukunnatlu
Like thinking of a feast while fasting.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is daydreaming about luxuries or pleasures while suffering through severe hardship or deprivation. It highlights the irony or the futility of imagining grand things when one's basic needs are not being met.
పేనుకు పెత్తనమిస్తే, తలంతా తెగకొరికి పెట్టిందట
penuku pettanamiste, talanta tegakoriki pettindata
If you give a louse authority, it will bite the entire head off.
This proverb describes a situation where an undeserving, petty, or small-minded person is given power or authority, and they end up abusing it to cause significant damage or nuisance. It is used to caution against putting incompetent or mean-spirited people in charge.
లంకా దహనం
lanka dahanam
The burning of Lanka
This expression is used to describe a situation of massive destruction, a major uproar, or a heated argument that results in chaos. It originates from the Ramayana, where Hanuman sets the city of Lanka on fire.
తానొకటి తలిస్తే దైవమొకటి తలచినట్లు
tanokati taliste daivamokati talachinatlu
While one thinks of one thing, God thinks of another.
This proverb is the Telugu equivalent of 'Man proposes, God disposes'. It is used when human plans or expectations fail due to unforeseen circumstances or fate, highlighting that humans do not have ultimate control over the outcomes of their actions.
పేనుకు పెత్తనమిస్తే తల అంతా కొరికిందట
penuku pettanamiste tala anta korikindata
A louse, if entrusted with authority, only does what it knows to do: it bites the whole
If an unworthy person is given authority, he will misuse it and destroy the whole organization. One should exercise great caution and proper judgment, while selecting the leaders.