ఇంటి దొంగను ఈశ్వరుడు కూడా పట్టలేడు
inti donganu ishvarudu kuda pattaledu
Even Šiva himself cannot find out a thief amongst the household.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone from within a group or family is causing harm or stealing. It implies that when the betrayal comes from an insider, it is nearly impossible to detect or prevent, as they know all the secrets and have everyone's trust.
Related Phrases
దొంగను తేలు కుట్టినట్టు
donganu telu kuttinattu
Like a robber stung by a scorpion. A man does not cry out when he suffers from his own folly.
This expression describes a situation where someone is suffering or facing a problem but cannot complain or cry out for help because doing so would reveal their own wrongdoings or secrets. Just as a thief cannot scream when stung by a scorpion while stealing for fear of getting caught, it refers to a state of silent, helpless suffering.
దొంగకు చేను పచ్చి లేదు.
dongaku chenu pachchi ledu.
The thief does not care if the corn be not quite ripe.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is so desperate or greedy that they do not care about the quality or readiness of what they are taking. Just as a thief steals crops without waiting for them to ripen, a person with bad intentions or urgent greed will seize any opportunity immediately, regardless of whether it is the right time or if the outcome is optimal.
A man is not particular about that which does not belong to him.
ఐశ్వర్యానికి అంతము లేదు.
aishvaryaniki antamu ledu.
There is no limit to riches.
This expression refers to the infinite nature of human desire for wealth or the fact that there is no limit to how much riches one can accumulate. It is often used to emphasize that material prosperity is boundless, or conversely, that the pursuit of wealth can be never-ending and potentially unsatisfying.
పని చేయనివాడు ఇంటికి దొంగ, పన్ను ఇవ్వనివాడు దివాణానికి దొంగ.
pani cheyanivadu intiki donga, pannu ivvanivadu divananiki donga.
A man who does not work robs the house, a man who pays no taxes robs the government.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one's responsibilities. Just as a lazy person who consumes resources without contributing is a burden to their family, a person who evades taxes is considered a criminal against the government or society. It is used to highlight that negligence of duty is a form of dishonesty.
* Dat is het ambacht van dikken Michiel: drinken, eten, en wandelen.
ఏతాం పాటకు ఎదురు పాట లేదు
etam pataku eduru pata ledu
There is no rival song to the Étam song. The song of drawers of water is not composed according to the rules of music and cannot be compared with any other.
This expression is used to describe a situation where there is no argument, alternative, or response possible against a certain fact or a person's authority. Just as the rhythmic chant of a farmer operating an 'Etam' (a traditional water-lifting device) is continuous and rhythmic without a secondary singer to answer it, this phrase highlights something that is final, undisputed, or lacks a match.
ముల్లు తీయను ముల్లే కావాలి, దొంగను పట్టను దొంగే కావాలి
mullu tiyanu mulle kavali, donganu pattanu donge kavali
To remove a thorn, you need a thorn; to catch a thief, you need a thief.
This expression means that sometimes you must use the same methods or types of people associated with a problem to solve it. It is equivalent to the English proverbs 'set a thief to catch a thief' or 'fight fire with fire,' implying that specialized knowledge or similar tactics are required to overcome a specific challenge.
దొంగను దొంగ ఎరుగును
donganu donga erugunu
A thief is known by a thief. A thief knows a thief, as a wolf knows a wolf.
This proverb implies that people of the same kind, especially those with malicious or secretive habits, can easily recognize each other's traits or motives. It is equivalent to the English proverb 'It takes one to know one' or 'Birds of a feather flock together.'
ఐశ్వర్యానికి అంతేలేదు
aishvaryaniki anteledu
There is no end to the wealth.
This expression is used to describe someone who possesses immense or boundless wealth. It is typically used when talking about extreme prosperity or a state of being incredibly rich where the riches seem infinite.
నాడు కట్టా లేదు, నేడు చించా లేదు.
nadu katta ledu, nedu chincha ledu.
Neither on that day did I put it on, nor on this day have I torn it.
This proverb is used to describe someone who is consistently lazy, indifferent, or irresponsible. It refers to a person who didn't take the effort to wear/tie a garment properly in the past and doesn't bother about it being torn or ruined in the present. It characterizes a state of having no cares, no progress, and no sense of responsibility regardless of the time or situation.
Said by a poor fellow who had never had the pleasure of putting on a good cloth or the annoyance of tearing it.
చింత లేదు, చింత లేకపోతే పులుసు లేదు.
chinta ledu, chinta lekapote pulusu ledu.
"No matter" said one, "Then if there's no tamarind, there's no acid" said the other. There is here a pun upon the word Chinta which means both "thought, sorrow" and also "tamarinds."
This is a pun on the Telugu word 'Chinta' which means both 'worry' and 'tamarind'. It is used humorously to describe a situation where someone says they have no worries, but in reality, they are missing a basic necessity or the very thing that gives life flavor. It highlights that being completely free of 'concerns' might sometimes mean lacking something essential.