ఏనుగు ఎత్తుబడితే, దోమ దొరికించుకొన్నదట
enugu ettubadite, doma dorikinchukonnadata
When the elephant fell down, the mosquito claimed it had caught it.
This proverb describes a situation where a powerful person faces a natural downfall or misfortune, and a weak, insignificant person takes credit for that downfall. It is used to mock those who boast about achievements that were actually caused by circumstances beyond their control.
Related Phrases
ఏనుగు మీద దోమ వాలితే ఎంత బరువు?
enugu mida doma valite enta baruvu?
If a musquito light on an elephant, what weight?
This expression is used to describe an insignificant or negligible impact. It refers to a situation where a small addition or minor loss makes no difference to a person or an entity that is already vast, wealthy, or powerful.
కన్నంలో దొరికిన దొంగ గతి
kannamlo dorikina donga gati
The fate of a thief caught in the hole (of a wall).
This expression describes a situation where someone is caught red-handed or trapped in a hopeless, compromising position with no possibility of escape or denial. It is used when a person's wrongdoing is exposed so clearly that they are left completely helpless and at the mercy of others.
ఆకొన్న సింహానికి ఏనుగు దొరికినట్లు
akonna simhaniki enugu dorikinatlu
Like a hungry lion finding an elephant
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone in desperate need or intense desire suddenly finds a massive, perfect opportunity or a great reward. It implies that a long-awaited solution has appeared at just the right time, providing more than enough to satisfy the need.
ఏనుగు పడుకొన్నా గుట్టంత ఎత్తు
enugu padukonna guttanta ettu
An elephant is as high as a hill even when it is lying down.
This proverb is used to describe a person of great stature, wealth, or influence. It suggests that even when such a person is at their lowest point or in a period of decline, they are still superior or more powerful than ordinary people. It emphasizes inherent greatness that doesn't disappear completely during tough times.
దోచుకుపోయినవాడు దొర, దొరికినవాడు దొంగ.
dochukupoyinavadu dora, dorikinavadu donga.
The one who loots and gets away is a lord, the one who gets caught is a thief.
This proverb highlights the irony of social status and justice. It suggests that if a person commits a large-scale crime but manages to escape or hide it, they are often respected as a great person or leader. However, the one who gets caught, even for a minor offense, is branded a criminal. It is used to comment on the hypocrisy of society and the flaw in identifying criminals solely based on their capture.
ఏనుగు ఎత్తుబడ్డా గుట్టిమంత ఎత్తు.
enugu ettubadda guttimanta ettu.
Even if an elephant falls down, it is still as high as a hillock.
This proverb is used to describe a person or entity that was once great, wealthy, or powerful. Even after facing a significant downfall or loss, their remaining stature, dignity, or assets are still far superior to those of an ordinary person.
కోతికి టెంకాయ దొరికినట్లు
kotiki tenkaya dorikinatlu
Like a monkey finding a coconut
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone gains possession of something valuable or complex but has no idea how to use, appreciate, or manage it. Just as a monkey cannot crack open a hard coconut to eat the fruit inside, an incompetent or unqualified person cannot benefit from a resource they have acquired.
ఎంత తొండమున్నా దోమ ఏనుగు కాదు
enta tondamunna doma enugu kadu
No matter how long its trunk is, a mosquito cannot become an elephant.
This expression is used to remind that imitation or having a single similar trait does not equate to having the actual stature, strength, or essence of another. It highlights that inherent nature and capability cannot be changed by superficial similarities or mere pretension.
పులి ఎత్తుబడితే, నలుగురు నాలుగు రాళ్ళు వేస్తారు
puli ettubadite, naluguru nalugu rallu vestaru
When a tiger falls into a pit (or is weakened), everyone throws a stone at it.
This proverb describes a situation where when a powerful or influential person falls from grace or faces a downfall, even the common or weak people who were previously afraid of them will take the opportunity to criticize, mock, or attack them. It is used to illustrate how people react to someone's loss of power or misfortune.
ఏనుగులు ఎగిరిపోతుంటే, దోమలు ఒక లెక్కా?
enugulu egiripotunte, domalu oka lekka?
When elephants are being blown away, do mosquitoes even count?
This expression is used to describe a situation where much bigger or more powerful entities are failing or being swept away by a crisis, making the problems of smaller, insignificant entities seem trivial. It implies that if the giants cannot survive a situation, the small ones don't even stand a chance or aren't worth mentioning.