గోముఖ వ్యాఘ్రం

gomukha vyaghram

Translation

A tiger with a cow's face

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a hypocrite or a 'wolf in sheep's clothing'. It refers to a person who appears gentle, innocent, and harmless like a cow on the outside, but is actually cruel, dangerous, or predatory like a tiger on the inside.

Related Phrases

A tiger has no mercy, and the Kamadhenu (divine cow) has no selfishness.

This expression highlights the inherent and unchangeable nature of beings. Just as a tiger is naturally predatory and cannot show mercy, a virtuous or divine person is naturally selfless and cannot act out of greed. It is used to describe how people act according to their fundamental character.

When something with no identity looked into a mirror, it became multi-faced.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a person of no consequence or status suddenly gains power or attention and starts acting overly important or arrogant. It highlights how someone with no background or merit can become vain and complex when given a little recognition.

The whole village faces one way, while the Dasari faces the palm trees.

This proverb is used to describe a person who is eccentric or stubborn and refuses to conform to the group. When everyone is heading in one direction or agreeing on a common path, this person intentionally chooses a different, often illogical, direction or opinion.

A pot of poison with milk on the surface

This expression is used to describe a hypocritical person who appears sweet, kind, or friendly on the outside but harbors malice or evil intentions within. It is often used as a warning to be cautious of people who use flattering words to hide their true harmful nature.

No happiness in the face, no strength in the knees

This expression describes a state of total exhaustion, aging, or complete lack of vitality. It is used when a person is both mentally dejected (no glow/happiness on the face) and physically weak (knees failing), indicating they are no longer fit for strenuous work or are feeling the heavy toll of hardship.

A male buffalo cannot scrub its own back, but he can; that is the only difference.

This biting sarcasm is used to describe an extremely lazy or dirty person. It suggests that the only thing separating such a person from a beast (buffalo) is the physical ability to clean themselves, implying they possess no other superior human qualities or hygiene habits.

Farming on high-elevated barren land will not even provide a meal.

This proverb highlights that investing effort or resources in an unproductive or unsuitable environment will yield no results. Just as farming on dry, elevated mound soil (pati) is futile because it cannot hold water, working on a flawed plan or in a hopeless situation will not even cover basic necessities.

A tiger with a cow's face

This expression is used to describe a hypocrite or a dangerous person who hides their true malicious nature behind a gentle, innocent, or saintly appearance. Similar to the English idiom 'A wolf in sheep's clothing'.

A child who doesn't see their mother's face is like a crop that doesn't see the rain.

This proverb highlights the essential nature of a mother's care and rain for survival and growth. Just as a crop cannot flourish or survive without rain, a child suffers and cannot thrive without the nurturing presence and affection of a mother. It is used to describe situations of extreme deprivation or the lack of a fundamental life-sustaining element.

A person whose nose and face are unknown.

This expression is used to describe a complete stranger or someone with whom one has no prior acquaintance or connection. It is often used when emphasizing that a person is totally anonymous or unknown to a particular circle or individual.