హంసను చూసిన కాకి కులికి కురికి నడిచిందట

hamsanu chusina kaki kuliki kuriki nadichindata

Translation

Seeing a swan, a crow tried to walk with style and pride, only to stumble.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a person who tries to imitate someone more graceful, talented, or superior in status, but fails miserably and looks foolish in the process. It emphasizes that one should be natural and not try to copy others' innate traits.

Related Phrases

Could not learn the swan's gait, and forgot the crow's gait.

This expression refers to a situation where someone tries to imitate others' superior skills or lifestyle but fails to master them, while simultaneously losing their own natural abilities or original identity. It is used to describe someone who ends up 'nowhere' by trying to be someone they are not.

The chicken that got used to eating well ended up crowing from the rooftop.

This proverb is used to describe a person who becomes overly bold, arrogant, or demanding after being pampered or given too much freedom. It suggests that when someone is treated with excessive indulgence, they lose their sense of boundaries and start acting in a disrespectful or entitled manner.

The love of a goldsmith upon seeing gold

This expression refers to a person whose affection or interest is driven purely by greed or the potential for profit. Just as a goldsmith's 'love' for gold is actually a desire to manipulate, melt, and profit from it, this phrase describes opportunistic behavior where someone acts friendly only because they see a way to exploit someone or something for their own gain.

The tiger licked him and left him. A marvellous escape.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone narrowly escapes a fatal or extremely dangerous situation with minor damage, or survives an ordeal that usually results in death. It implies a sense of being lucky to be alive despite being at the mercy of a powerful predator or a disastrous circumstance.

Fear is for the money, not for the wisdom.

This expression is used to describe a situation where people respect or fear someone only because of their wealth and social status, rather than their character, intelligence, or integrity. It highlights the materialistic nature of society.

For the crow its young one is the loveliest.

The suggestion is that for the parents the ugly child is not ugly but very lovable. It is the unbounded love of parents for their offspring that is highlighted here.

Though it bathe in the Ganges, will a crow become a swan ?

This expression means that a person's inherent nature, character, or lack of skill cannot be changed simply by external actions, rituals, or by changing their environment. It is used to suggest that superficial changes do not alter one's true identity or capabilities.

When a vain woman was placed in a palanquin, she swayed her body so much that she ruined her health.

This proverb describes people who don't know how to behave when given a position of honor or luxury. Instead of being graceful, they overact or behave foolishly due to excessive pride or lack of character, eventually causing their own downfall or making themselves look ridiculous.

Even if one eats crow's food, the stomach must be filled.

This proverb emphasizes that the end result or the outcome is more important than the means or the status of how something was achieved. It is used to suggest that as long as a person's basic needs are met or a goal is accomplished, the specific methods or the humble nature of the source do not matter.

Even if it dips in the Ganges, will a crow become a swan?

This proverb is used to convey that a person's fundamental nature, character, or inherent qualities do not change simply by changing their environment, performing religious rituals, or putting on external appearances. Just as a crow remains a crow regardless of where it bathes, a person with bad intentions or lack of merit cannot become noble just by association with something sacred.