ఎత్తుకొని తిన్నబోలె ఎదురుగా వస్తే, చంకన ఉన్నబోలె సలాం చేసినదట.
ettukoni tinnabole eduruga vaste, chankana unnabole salam chesinadata.
When he was met by the bowl that he used to collect alms in and eat out of, the bowl under his arm made salâm to it. A begging impostor paying a visit on one occasion to a village where he thought he was not known, kept his alms-bowl under his arm, but when he met a man carrying an old bowl that had once belonged to him, the one under his arm is said to have betrayed its owner by claiming acquaintance with its predecessor.
This proverb describes a situation where someone who has committed a mistake or a crime meets their peer or accomplice. It is used to mock people who pretend to be respectful or formal to hide their shared guilt or to highlight the irony of one thief showing respect to another thief who was more successful in their deed.
Related Phrases
పుణ్యానికి పోతే పాపం ఎదురొచ్చినట్లు
punyaniki pote papam edurochchinatlu
When he went to do good, evil met him.
This expression is used when a person tries to do a good deed or help someone, but instead of receiving gratitude or a good result, they end up facing trouble, blame, or negative consequences. It is similar to the English saying 'No good deed goes unpunished'.
అడుక్కుతిన్నా బొలె ఆసాగా ఉండాలి
adukkutinna bole asaga undali
Even if one lives by begging, the bowl should be held with dignity.
This proverb emphasizes that no matter how low one's financial or social status is, one should maintain their self-respect and dignity. It is used to suggest that even in poverty, one must carry themselves with a certain level of pride and orderliness.
ఎత్తుకొని తిన్న బోలె ఎదురుగా వస్తే, చంకనున్న బోలె సలాం చేసిందట.
ettukoni tinna bole eduruga vaste, chankanunna bole salam chesindata.
When the pot that was stolen and eaten from came face to face, the pot under the armpit saluted it.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person who has committed a large-scale or blatant theft or mistake meets someone who has done a smaller, hidden one. It implies that when a big thief encounters a bigger one, the smaller thief pays respect out of fear or recognition of shared guilt. It satirizes the hierarchy and mutual recognition among dishonest people.
కాలు చెయ్యి తిన్నగా ఉన్నంత కాలం మహరాజే
kalu cheyyi tinnaga unnanta kalam maharaje
As long as hands and feet are working properly, one is a king.
This expression emphasizes the value of physical health and independence. It suggests that as long as a person is healthy enough to perform their own tasks and move around without depending on others, they live a dignified life comparable to that of a king. It is often used to remind people to cherish their health or when discussing the difficulties of old age and dependency.
కుమ్ము చెప్పుకొనేటందుకు గూడూరు పోతే, యేడు వూళ్ల కుమ్ము యెదురుగా వచ్చినది.
kummu cheppukonetanduku guduru pote, yedu vulla kummu yeduruga vachchinadi.
When he went to Gûdûr to tell of his misfortune, the mis- fortune of seven villages met him. Whither goest thou, Misfortune? To where there is more. (Spanish.)
This proverb describes a situation where a person seeks help or relief from their troubles by going to someone else, only to find that the other person is in much deeper trouble than themselves. It is used when one's attempts to escape a problem lead to even greater difficulties or when finding that the grass is not greener on the other side.
ఉడుమును చంక పెట్టుకుని ఊళ్లో ప్రవేశించినట్టు
udumunu chanka pettukuni ullo praveshinchinattu
Going into a village with a guana in one's arms.
This expression refers to bringing something extremely unlucky, troublesome, or dangerous into a community or household. In Telugu folklore, monitor lizards are traditionally associated with bad luck or 'shani'; bringing one home is seen as inviting disaster through one's own foolish actions.
Eccentric conduct.
ఏరు ఏడామడ ఉండగానే, చీర విప్పి చంకన పెట్టుకున్నట్టు
eru edamada undagane, chira vippi chankana pettukunnattu
She took off her cloth and put it under her arm, while the river was still seventy miles off.
This expression is used to describe someone who acts with premature over-preparedness or haste. It refers to people who start preparing for a task or reacting to a situation long before it is actually necessary, often appearing foolish or over-anxious in the process.
Do not strip before bed time. (French.)*
మొక్కుకున్న దేవుడు ఎదురుగా వచ్చినట్లు
mokkukunna devudu eduruga vachchinatlu
The god he went to worship met him in the way.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone you desperately needed to see or something you urgently required suddenly appears or happens unexpectedly. It signifies a moment of great relief and luck, similar to a divine intervention when one is in need.
పిల్లిని చంకన పెట్టుకుని పెళ్ళికి వెళ్ళినట్టు.
pillini chankana pettukuni pelliki vellinattu.
Like going to a wedding while carrying a cat under one's arm.
This expression describes a situation where someone brings along an unnecessary burden or a nuisance while trying to perform an important task. It refers to people who create their own obstacles or distractions that make a simple or celebratory event difficult for themselves and others.
ఆడబోయిన తీర్థము ఎదురుగా వచ్చినట్లు
adaboyina tirthamu eduruga vachchinatlu
The sacred water in which the man was going to bathe came to meet him.
This proverb describes a situation where something you were seeking or planning to travel for becomes available to you unexpectedly and effortlessly. It is used when a desired opportunity presents itself right at your doorstep just as you were about to put in effort to attain it.
A thing sought for to come to hand without trouble.