ఎలుక ఎప్పుడూ తన దిక్కుకే తవ్వుకుంటుంది

eluka eppudu tana dikkuke tavvukuntundi

Translation

A rat always digs towards its own side.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a person who is inherently selfish or always looks out for their own personal gain in every situation. Just as a rat instinctively digs burrows towards its own nest or hiding place for safety, a self-centered person directs every action or decision to benefit themselves.

Related Phrases

The one who digs a pit will fall into it himself.

This proverb is equivalent to the English saying 'to dig one's own grave' or 'what goes around comes around.' It suggests that people who plot harm against others will eventually be trapped by their own malicious schemes or face the consequences of their own wrongdoings.

The vessel used to measure castor oil is always greasy.

This proverb describes a person who is always associated with a particular habit or trait, often a negative one, to the point where it becomes their permanent identity. Just as a measuring cup for oil remains sticky even when empty, a person's reputation or past actions continue to define them in the eyes of others.

The one who digs the pit is the one who falls into it

This is equivalent to the English proverb 'He who digs a pit for others falls into it himself.' It is used to describe a situation where someone's malicious plans or traps for others eventually cause their own downfall or trouble.

One falls into the pit they dug themselves.

This proverb is equivalent to the English saying 'As you sow, so shall you reap' or 'To dig a pit for others and fall into it oneself.' It means that people eventually suffer the consequences of their own bad actions or the traps they set for others.

As if bringing all directions to one single direction.

This expression is used to describe a state of extreme confusion, chaos, or being completely overwhelmed. It refers to a situation where someone is so disoriented that they cannot distinguish between different paths or directions, metaphorically suggesting that their world has been turned upside down or converged into a single point of confusion.

If you get the leaf laid out first, you can eat whenever you want later.

In the context of traditional Indian dining where food is served on a leaf, this expression emphasizes the importance of securing your place or opportunity first. It is used to suggest that one should prioritize claiming a right, seat, or fundamental requirement, after which the actual task can be completed at one's own pace.

Like falling into a pit one dug for themselves

This expression is used when someone's malicious plans against others backfire and cause them harm instead. It is the Telugu equivalent of 'falling into one's own trap' or 'being hoist with one's own petard'.

The injured finger is the one that keeps getting hit.

This expression is used to describe a situation where troubles or misfortunes seem to repeatedly affect the same person or the same weak spot. It is similar to the English proverb 'Misfortunes never come singly' or the idea that 'it always pours when it rains.' It highlights how a person already in distress often faces further complications.

For those who have no one, God is the only refuge

This proverb is used to convey that when a person is helpless, abandoned, or has no support system (orphans, the destitute, or the oppressed), the divine power or providence is their ultimate protector. It is often used to offer comfort in dire situations or to remind others that the helpless are under God's care.

When the pot is struck, the base/support is also struck at the same time.

This proverb is used to describe an immediate and inevitable consequence. Just as the support (kuduru) becomes useless or is discarded the moment the clay pot (kunda) breaks, this expression refers to situations where two things are so closely linked that the end of one automatically results in the end or downfall of the other.