దొంగను దొంగ ఎరుగును
donganu donga erugunu
A thief is known by a thief. A thief knows a thief, as a wolf knows a wolf.
This proverb implies that people of the same kind, especially those with malicious or secretive habits, can easily recognize each other's traits or motives. It is equivalent to the English proverb 'It takes one to know one' or 'Birds of a feather flock together.'
Related Phrases
దొంగకు దొంగ బుద్ధి, దొరకు దొర బుద్ధి.
dongaku donga buddhi, doraku dora buddhi.
A thief has a thief's thoughts, a gentleman has a gentleman's thoughts.
This proverb means that a person's behavior and thinking are dictated by their character and inherent nature. A person with bad intentions will always act according to their devious nature, while a person of noble character will act with dignity and honor, regardless of the situation.
దొంగను తేలు కుట్టినట్టు
donganu telu kuttinattu
Like a robber stung by a scorpion. A man does not cry out when he suffers from his own folly.
This expression describes a situation where someone is suffering or facing a problem but cannot complain or cry out for help because doing so would reveal their own wrongdoings or secrets. Just as a thief cannot scream when stung by a scorpion while stealing for fear of getting caught, it refers to a state of silent, helpless suffering.
దొంగకు దొంగ తోడు
dongaku donga todu
A thief is a companion to another thief
This expression is used to describe how people with similar bad habits, questionable characters, or dishonest intentions tend to support and protect each other. It is equivalent to the English proverb 'Birds of a feather flock together' or 'Honor among thieves', often used in a negative context to highlight collusion between wrongdoers.
దొంగలూ దొంగలూ కలిసి ఊళ్ళు పంచుకొన్నట్లు.
dongalu dongalu kalisi ullu panchukonnatlu.
Like thieves joining together to divide the villages among themselves.
This expression is used to describe a situation where corrupt or wicked people collaborate to share spoils or ill-gotten gains. It highlights a conspiracy where individuals with no integrity cooperate solely for mutual benefit at the expense of others.
దొంగలు దొంగలు కలిసి ఊళ్ళు పంచుకున్నట్టు
dongalu dongalu kalisi ullu panchukunnattu
Like thieves joining together to divide the villages among themselves.
This expression is used when two or more dishonest people or entities collaborate to share ill-gotten gains or exploit a situation for their own benefit. It describes a situation where 'honor among thieves' exists solely to ensure they can divide the loot without conflict, often at the expense of others.
తాను దొంగైతే, పరులను నమ్మడు.
tanu dongaite, parulanu nammadu.
If one is a thief themselves, they will not trust others.
This proverb describes a psychological projection where a person who is dishonest or lacks integrity assumes that everyone else is also deceitful. It is used to point out that one's own character often dictates how they perceive and judge the character of others.
ముల్లు తీయను ముల్లే కావాలి, దొంగను పట్టను దొంగే కావాలి
mullu tiyanu mulle kavali, donganu pattanu donge kavali
To remove a thorn, you need a thorn; to catch a thief, you need a thief.
This expression means that sometimes you must use the same methods or types of people associated with a problem to solve it. It is equivalent to the English proverbs 'set a thief to catch a thief' or 'fight fire with fire,' implying that specialized knowledge or similar tactics are required to overcome a specific challenge.
దొంగ సంగతి దొంగకే ఎరుగును
donga sangati dongake erugunu
Only a thief knows the secrets of another thief
This proverb implies that people of the same kind, especially those involved in deceptive or specific activities, understand each other's tactics and mindsets better than outsiders. It is used to suggest that it takes one to know one.
తాను దొంగైతే, ఇరుగు పొరుగును నమ్మడు.
tanu dongaite, irugu porugunu nammadu.
If one is a thief themselves, they won't trust their neighbors.
This proverb describes a person who, due to their own dishonest nature or bad habits, projects those same qualities onto others. It is used to describe someone who is overly suspicious of others because they know their own faults. It is similar to the English expression 'a thief thinks everyone steals'.
దొంగకు దొంగబుద్ది, దొరకు దొరబుద్ది.
dongaku dongabuddi, doraku dorabuddi.
A thief has a thief's mentality, a gentleman has a gentleman's mentality.
This proverb states that a person's character and actions are determined by their innate nature or social standing. It is used to explain that individuals will consistently act according to their established traits or upbringing, whether those are dishonest or noble.