ఇల్లు కాలుతుంటే వాసాలు పీక్కున్నట్టు
illu kalutunte vasalu pikkunnattu
Like pulling the rafters out of a burning house. A clumsy expedient.
This proverb describes a person's extreme selfishness or greed. It refers to someone who tries to gain a small, petty benefit from a catastrophic situation or someone else's misfortune, instead of helping or showing empathy.
Related Phrases
ఇల్లు కాలుతుండగా వాసాలు దూసుకొన్నట్లు
illu kalutundaga vasalu dusukonnatlu
Like pulling out the rafters while the house is on fire.
This expression is used to describe an extremely selfish or opportunistic person who tries to extract personal gain or petty benefits from a major disaster or someone else's crisis, instead of helping to solve the problem.
ఇల్లు కాలుతుంటే చుట్ట కాల్చుకున్నాడట
illu kalutunte chutta kalchukunnadata
When the house was on fire, he tried to light his cigar with it.
This proverb is used to describe an extremely selfish or opportunistic person who tries to find a small personal benefit even in a situation of great disaster or someone else's misery. It highlights a lack of empathy and a focus on trivial personal needs during a crisis.
తిన్న ఇంటి వాసాలు లెక్కపెట్టినట్లు
tinna inti vasalu lekkapettinatlu
Like counting the rafters of the house where one was fed.
This expression is used to describe an act of extreme ingratitude or treachery. It refers to someone who harms or betrays the very person who helped or sheltered them in their time of need.
దొంగలూ దొంగలూ కలిసి ఊళ్ళు పంచుకొన్నట్లు.
dongalu dongalu kalisi ullu panchukonnatlu.
Like thieves joining together to divide the villages among themselves.
This expression is used to describe a situation where corrupt or wicked people collaborate to share spoils or ill-gotten gains. It highlights a conspiracy where individuals with no integrity cooperate solely for mutual benefit at the expense of others.
పొరుగు పచ్చగా ఉంటే, పొయ్యిలో నీళ్లు పోసుకున్నట్టు
porugu pachchaga unte, poyyilo nillu posukunnattu
When his neighbour prospered he poured water on his own hearth.
This proverb describes the toxic nature of extreme envy. It refers to people who are so jealous of others' success or prosperity (being 'green') that they self-destruct or extinguish their own progress and happiness (extinguishing their own cooking fire) out of spite or misery.
An envious act. To lose one eye that you may deprive another of two. (Spanish.)!
సత్యములు పొత్తు కుడుచునా బాసలు కలిసివచ్చునా?
satyamulu pottu kuduchuna basalu kalisivachchuna?
Will truths share a meal? Will promises come together?
This expression is often used to question the reliability of alliances or agreements made between parties who lack genuine integrity or shared values. It suggests that mere words or 'truths' are not enough to ensure a lasting partnership if there is no underlying trust or sincerity. It is used when pointing out that forced or artificial cooperation will likely fail.
దాగబోయిన చోట దయ్యాలు పట్టుకున్నట్లు
dagaboyina chota dayyalu pattukunnatlu
The devils caught him in the place he went to hide in. One ill calls another. (Italian.)
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone, while trying to escape or hide from a small problem or danger, ends up encountering a much bigger or more terrifying trouble. It is similar to the English expression 'out of the frying pan and into the fire.'
దండగలో పండగ
dandagalo pandaga
A festival amidst a waste or loss
This expression is used to describe a situation where an unexpected positive event or celebration occurs during a time of significant loss, waste, or overall failure. It highlights an ironic or small consolation in a losing situation.
తెడ్డు ఉండగా చెయ్యి కాల్చుకున్నట్టు
teddu undaga cheyyi kalchukunnattu
Burning his hand when he had a ladle. To stir the rice with.
This proverb describes a situation where someone suffers or makes a mistake despite having the necessary tools or resources to avoid it. It is used to point out foolishness or the failure to utilize available help, similar to the English concept of 'making things harder for oneself'.
కుందేలు కాలు నాకుకున్నట్లు
kundelu kalu nakukunnatlu
Like a rabbit licking its own leg
This expression is used to describe a person who is overly self-satisfied or takes immense pride in their own small achievements, often ignoring the bigger picture or failing to realize that their actions are self-serving and of little consequence to others.