ఎద్దు చేను మేసిపోతే, గాడిదకు చెవులు కోసినట్లు
eddu chenu mesipote, gadidaku chevulu kosinatlu
When an ox grazes the field, cutting off the ears of a donkey.
This proverb describes a situation where one person commits a mistake or crime, but an innocent person is punished for it. It highlights unfairness and the misdirection of justice.
Related Phrases
తీయని నోరు చేదు మేసినట్లు
tiyani noru chedu mesinatlu
Like a sweet mouth grazing on bitterness
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who is accustomed to goodness, pleasantness, or luxury suddenly experiences something very unpleasant, harsh, or bitter. It highlights the sharp and jarring contrast between a previous happy state and a current miserable one.
గటిక చేను గాడిద పాలు
gatika chenu gadida palu
A hard field and donkey's milk
This proverb is used to describe a situation that is completely useless or yields no benefit despite hard work. Just as a hard, barren field produces no crop and a donkey's milk is generally not consumed, it refers to a wasted effort or a lost cause where the resources and results are both worthless.
తల్లి చెవులు తెంపినవానికి పినతల్లి చెవులు బీరపువ్వులు.
talli chevulu tempinavaniki pinatalli chevulu birapuvvulu.
To a person who has torn off his own mother's ears, his aunt's ears are like ridge gourd flowers.
This proverb describes a person who is so cruel or heartless that they have harmed their own closest kin. For such a person, harming others (like an aunt or distant relative) is a trivial matter. It is used to warn others about a person's character; if someone doesn't spare their own family, they certainly won't spare you.
అడవిపంది చేను మేసిపోతే, ఊరపంది చెవులు కోసినట్లు.
adavipandi chenu mesipote, urapandi chevulu kosinatlu.
If a wild boar grazes and destroys the field, the domestic pig's ears are cut off.
This proverb describes a situation where an innocent person is punished or blamed for the mistakes committed by someone else. It is used when the actual culprit escapes, and a convenient scapegoat is targeted instead.
కథకు కాళ్ళు, ముంతకు చెవులు కల్పించినట్లు
kathaku kallu, muntaku chevulu kalpinchinatlu
Like giving legs to a story and ears to a pot.
This expression describes the act of exaggerating a story or fabricating unnecessary details to make a simple event sound more dramatic or believable. It is used when someone adds 'spices' or false information to a basic fact, making the narrative unrealistic or distorted.
కుక్క పని గాడిద చేసినట్లు
kukka pani gadida chesinatlu
Like a donkey trying to do a dog's job
This expression is used when someone tries to perform a task that is not within their expertise or role, often resulting in failure or chaos. It highlights the importance of sticking to one's own responsibilities and strengths.
రాటానికి రెండు చెవులు, నాకు రెండు చెవులు.
rataniki rendu chevulu, naku rendu chevulu.
The spinning wheel has two ears, and I have two ears.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone claims equality with another person or object based on a very superficial or irrelevant similarity, while ignoring the vast difference in status, function, or utility. It highlights a false or absurd comparison.
రోకటి చిగుళ్ళు కోసినట్లు
rokati chigullu kosinatlu
Like harvesting tender sprouts from a wooden pestle.
This expression is used to describe an impossible or futile task. Since a pestle (rokali) is a dry, solid piece of wood used for pounding grain, it can never grow sprouts. Expecting results from an impossible source or attempting something that defies logic is compared to this phrase.
ఏటి వొడ్డు చేను
eti voddu chenu
A field on the bank of the river.
This expression refers to something that is in a precarious or highly risky position. Just as a crop field on a riverbank is constantly at risk of being washed away by floods, it describes situations, investments, or lives that lack security and are prone to sudden disaster.
A dangerous situation.
కంచే చేను మేసింది.
kanche chenu mesindi.
The fence ate up the crop.
This proverb is used when the law-enforcing officer demands and gets bribe. It calls upon the custodians of law to abide by law themselves and give no scope for any lapses in the performance of their duties.