గాలికి పుట్టి ధూళికి పెరిగినట్టు
galiki putti dhuliki periginattu
Born to the wind and raised by the dust.
This expression refers to someone who grew up without any proper guidance, care, or parental supervision. It is often used to describe people who are self-made or, more commonly, those who lack manners and discipline because they were left to fend for themselves like weeds in the wind.
Related Phrases
కూలికి వచ్చి పాలికి మాట్లాడినట్లు
kuliki vachchi paliki matladinatlu
Coming for daily wages but asking for a share in the property.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is hired for a small task or holds a subordinate position oversteps their boundaries and demands authority, ownership, or a share in the profits. It highlights the audacity of a person who forgets their actual status and expects more than what they are entitled to.
కాలికి వేస్తే వేలికి, వేలికి వేస్తే కాలికి
kaliki veste veliki, veliki veste kaliki
If tied to the leg, it moves to the finger; if tied to the finger, it moves to the leg.
This expression describes a person who is extremely manipulative, slippery, or cunning. It is used for someone who always has a counter-argument or a way to twist words to escape accountability, making it impossible to pin them down to a single point.
గాలికి పుట్టి ధూళికి పెరిగినట్లు
galiki putti dhuliki periginatlu
Born to the wind and raised in the dust.
This expression is used to describe a person who has grown up without any proper guidance, care, or parental supervision. It often refers to someone who is self-made or has survived a neglected childhood, lacking a structured upbringing or stable background.
ఏ గాలికి ఆ చాప ఎత్తినట్టు
e galiki a chapa ettinattu
Like setting the sail according to the wind.
This proverb describes a person who is opportunistic or highly adaptable. It refers to the practice of changing one's opinions, loyalty, or behavior to suit current circumstances or to gain an advantage, similar to the English expression 'to trim one's sails to the wind.'
Set your sail according to the wind. (French.)*,
కూలికి వచ్చి పాలికి మాట్లాడినట్టు.
kuliki vachchi paliki matladinattu.
He came for hire, and asked for a share [in the business]. A cool request.
This proverb is used to describe a person who, despite having a very minor or temporary role in a task or organization, tries to claim ownership, authority, or a large share of the profits. It highlights the audacity of someone overstepping their boundaries.
వేలుకు వేస్తే కాలికి, కాలికి వేస్తే వేలికి.
veluku veste kaliki, kaliki veste veliki.
If put on the finger it goes to the toe, and if put on the toe it goes to the finger.
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely manipulative, inconsistent, or shifty in their speech. It refers to someone who changes their story or logic constantly to suit their convenience, making it impossible to pin them down to a single fact or commitment.
జొన్న పెరిగితే జాడు, వరి పెరిగితే వడ్లు.
jonna perigite jadu, vari perigite vadlu.
If sorghum grows tall it becomes fodder, if paddy grows it becomes grain.
This proverb is used to describe how growth affects different things differently. Just as sorghum (jonna) loses its grain value and becomes mere fodder (jaadu) when it grows excessively tall, but paddy (vari) yields more grain (vadlu), human endeavors or traits must be channeled correctly. It emphasizes that excessive growth in the wrong direction can be useless, while growth in the right context leads to productivity.
గాలికి పుట్టి, ధూళికి పెరిగినట్లు
galiki putti, dhuliki periginatlu
Born to the wind and raised in the dust.
This expression describes someone who grew up without any parental care, guidance, or proper upbringing. It is used to refer to people who are self-raised in neglectful conditions or things that have appeared and developed haphazardly without any formal foundation or supervision.
గాలికి పుట్టి ధూళికి పెరిగినట్టు
galiki putti dhuliki periginattu
Born of the wind, and reared up by the dust. Said by parents to an ungrateful son, or by a benefactor to an ungrateful dependant.
This expression refers to someone who grew up without proper care, guidance, or parental supervision. It is often used to describe a person who has become wayward or unrefined due to a lack of structured upbringing and support.
పిలిచి పెద్దపులికి పేరంటం పెట్టినట్లు
pilichi peddapuliki perantam pettinatlu
Like inviting a tiger to a social gathering.
This proverb describes a situation where someone voluntarily invites a dangerous or troublesome person into their lives or affairs, essentially creating their own misfortune. It is used when a person's own actions or invitations lead to a predictable disaster or threat.