గబ్బువాడు, గదరువాడు వియ్యమందితే, మురికివాడు వచ్చి ముద్దాడినాడట

gabbuvadu, gadaruvadu viyyamandite, murikivadu vachchi muddadinadata

Translation

When a stinky man and a filthy man became relatives, a dirty man came and kissed them.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a situation where people of low character or bad habits come together, attracting even worse company. It highlights that like-minded individuals with negative traits often form alliances, and such associations only lead to further degradation or the involvement of even more undesirable elements.

Related Phrases

While she was mourning her husband's death, her lover came and threw stones at her.

This proverb describes a situation where a person is already dealing with a major tragedy or crisis, only to be further harassed or troubled by an insignificant or unwelcome person. It is used to highlight the height of misfortune or the insensitivity of others during a person's most vulnerable moments.

If the owner of the house hits with a feather, the neighbor will hit with a rod.

This proverb warns that if you treat your own family members or belongings with disrespect or negligence in public, others will feel entitled to treat them even more harshly. It emphasizes that the way you value your own sets the standard for how the world will treat them.

Will the flood leave the boat and come to the village?

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone expects an impossibility or an illogical outcome. It implies that certain consequences are inextricably linked to their source, or that one cannot escape a larger disaster by focusing on minor details. Just as a flood naturally carries a boat, the primary cause dictates the result.

One who is diseased and one who is forced into labor are the same.

This proverb highlights that a person suffering from a disease and a person forced into unpaid manual labor (vetti) share a similar plight—both lose their freedom of will and are under a constant state of suffering or compulsion. It is used to describe situations where a person has no choice but to endure hardship.

It won't say it on the forehead painfully, but it won't let go of the person who arrived.

This proverb describes someone who lacks the courage to speak their mind directly or reject someone to their face, yet holds onto a grudge or continues to trouble the person in an indirect, lingering way. It is often used to describe passive-aggressive behavior or people who act politely while harboring ill intentions.

The one who arrives is a dear relative, the next day a costly burden, and the third day a guest to be packed off.

This proverb describes the diminishing hospitality guests receive over time. It suggests that while a guest is welcomed warmly on the first day, their presence becomes increasingly burdensome and unwelcome the longer they overstay their welcome.

A cunning person is thrice as bad as they appear.

This proverb suggests that a manipulative or overly clever person causes damage in multiple ways or more extensively than a straightforward person. It is used to warn others about the deceptive nature of 'gadusu' (cunning/shrewd) individuals whose actions have far-reaching negative consequences.

While one mourns for the child, the gravedigger mourns for the coin.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where one person is in deep grief or facing a serious problem, while another person is only interested in their personal gain or profit from that situation. It highlights extreme selfishness and lack of empathy.

When a person unable to survive jumped into a well, the person who went to rescue him fell into a ditch.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone's attempt to help a person in deep trouble results in a bigger disaster or misfortune for the helper themselves. It highlights ironical outcomes where the rescuer ends up in a worse position than the person needing help, or where a bad situation simply compounds into a comedy of errors.

He that is alive is the head man of the village, and he that is dead is the head man of the burial ground. A taunt used to one who tries to make out that he is very highly connected.

This proverb highlights the transient nature of power and social status. It suggests that authority and leadership are only relevant while a person is alive and present in society; once deceased, their worldly influence vanishes and they belong only to the graveyard.