గొర్రెను తినేవాడు పోతే, బర్రెను తినేవాడు వచ్చినట్టు.
gorrenu tinevadu pote, barrenu tinevadu vachchinattu.
When the man who ate sheep went, a man who ate buffa- los came. Parting with one rascal and getting a greater scoundrel in his place.
This expression is used to describe a situation where an existing problem or a bad person is replaced by something or someone even worse. It highlights that instead of finding relief, one has ended up with a more difficult or greedy person/situation.
Related Phrases
తిరిపపు మజ్జిగకు వచ్చి పాడిబర్రెను బేరము చేసినట్టు
tiripapu majjigaku vachchi padibarrenu beramu chesinattu
Like coming for a cup of buttermilk as charity and then trying to bargain for the milch buffalo.
This proverb is used to describe a person who asks for a small favor or a basic necessity and then oversteps their boundaries by trying to exert control or make demands on something much more valuable. It highlights audacity, greed, or the lack of propriety in a person who, while being a beggar or a seeker of help, starts acting like a patron or a boss.
పితికే బర్రెను ఇచ్చి పొడిచే దున్నను తెచ్చినట్టు.
pitike barrenu ichchi podiche dunnanu techchinattu.
He bartered a milch she buffalo for a goring he buffalo.
This proverb describes a foolish exchange or a bad bargain. It refers to a situation where someone gives away something useful and productive (the milking buffalo) only to replace it with something useless and harmful (the aggressive bull). It is used when a person makes a decision that results in a significant loss of utility and an increase in trouble.
తల్లిని చూచి పిల్లనూ, పాడిని చూచి బర్రెనూ తీసుకోవలెను
tallini chuchi pillanu, padini chuchi barrenu tisukovalenu
Look at the mother before you take the daughter; see how much milk the buffalo gives before you buy her.
This proverb suggests that the character and qualities of a person are often inherited or influenced by their upbringing and ancestry. It is commonly used in the context of marriage or forming long-term alliances, implying that observing the parents (background) provides a reliable preview of the individual's nature.
తిరిపెపు మజ్జిగకు వచ్చి పాడి బర్రెను బేరము చేసినట్టు.
tiripepu majjigaku vachchi padi barrenu beramu chesinattu.
Like coming to beg buttermilk, and bargaining for the milch buffalo. Pretended wealth.
This proverb describes a person who approaches someone for a small favor or out of necessity, but then tries to exert control or make excessive demands beyond their status or the situation. It highlights the irony of someone who is in a position of asking for charity (the beggar) acting as if they are the one in a position of power (the buyer).
అడుక్కొని తినేవాడు పెరుగన్నము కోరినట్లు
adukkoni tinevadu perugannamu korinatlu
Like a beggar asking for curd rice.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is in a desperate or dependent situation but still makes high demands or shows excessive fussiness. It refers to someone who lacks the basic means to survive yet expects luxuries or specific preferences that are beyond their current status.
ఏరుకు తినేవాడి వెంబడి గీరుక తినేవాడు పడ్డాడట
eruku tinevadi vembadi giruka tinevadu paddadata
Behind the person who gathers and eats, followed the person who scrapes and eats.
This expression is used to describe a situation where a person who is already poor or struggling is burdened by someone even worse off. It highlights the irony of a needy person being followed by someone seeking help from them, despite having nothing to give.
ఒక పూట తినేవాడు యోగి, రెండు పూటలు తినేవాడు భోగి, మూడు పూటలా తినేవాడు రోగి
oka puta tinevadu yogi, rendu putalu tinevadu bhogi, mudu putala tinevadu rogi
One who eats once a day is a Yogi, one who eats twice a day is a Bhogi, one who eats thrice a day is a Rogi
This traditional Telugu proverb highlights the health benefits of moderation in eating. It suggests that eating once a day leads to spiritual and physical discipline (Yogi), eating twice a day is for those enjoying a worldly life (Bhogi), while eating three or more times a day leads to sickness or a diseased state (Rogi).
తల దన్నేవాడు పోతే, తాడి తన్నేవాడు వస్తాడు
tala dannevadu pote, tadi tannevadu vastadu
If a man who kicks heads leaves, a man who kicks palm trees will arrive
This proverb is used to warn that if one problematic or clever person leaves, they might be replaced by someone even more difficult, smarter, or more dangerous. It implies that things can always get more intense or that there is always someone superior in skill or mischief.
మాంసం తినేవాడు పోతే, బొమికలు తినేవాడు వస్తాడు
mamsam tinevadu pote, bomikalu tinevadu vastadu
If the one who eats meat leaves, the one who eats bones will come.
This proverb is used to warn that if a bad person or a difficult situation is replaced, the successor might be even worse or more exploitative. It highlights the fear that the 'new' might be more desperate or damaging than the 'old'.
కాళ్ళకు మొక్కేవాడు పోయి, కంఠాన్ని పట్టుకొనేవాడు వచ్చినట్లు.
kallaku mokkevadu poyi, kanthanni pattukonevadu vachchinatlu.
Like one who bows to the feet leaving, and one who grabs the throat arriving.
This proverb describes a situation where a manageable or respectful problem is replaced by a much more aggressive, dangerous, or life-threatening one. It is used when a situation goes from being mild or submissive to being hostile and suffocating.