ఇంటివాణ్ణి లేపి, దొంగ చేతికి కట్టె ఇచ్చినట్లు

intivanni lepi, donga chetiki katte ichchinatlu

Translation

Waking up the homeowner and handing a stick to the thief.

Meaning

This proverb describes a double-crossing or hypocritical action where someone pretends to help but actually aids the enemy. It is used when a person's actions are self-defeating or when someone causes a conflict and then equips one side to cause more harm.

Related Phrases

Like handing a knife to a butcher

This expression is used when someone assists an already cruel or harmful person in their wrongdoings, thereby enabling more damage. It describes a situation where a dangerous person is provided with the exact tool or opportunity they need to cause further destruction.

Like giving the keys to a thief

This proverb describes a situation where a responsibility or a valuable asset is entrusted to someone who is most likely to abuse or steal it. It is used when a person makes a foolish decision by trusting an untrustworthy individual, effectively creating an opportunity for their own loss.

Like fruits growing on the palm of one's hand.

This expression is used to describe something that is impossible or highly unlikely to happen. Just as it is biologically impossible for fruit to grow directly from a human palm, it refers to unrealistic claims or deceptive promises that defy logic and reality.

Like giving the keys to a thief

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person mistakenly entrusts a valuable object or a sensitive responsibility to someone who is likely to misuse it or take advantage of it. It highlights the foolishness of putting a wrong or untrustworthy person in charge.

Like wealth fallen in the middle of a river returning to the center of the house.

This expression is used to describe a situation where something valuable that was thought to be lost forever or irrecoverable is unexpectedly and miraculously recovered. It signifies an unlikely but welcome stroke of luck or the return of lost assets.

A thief is a companion to another thief

This expression is used to describe how people with similar bad habits, questionable characters, or dishonest intentions tend to support and protect each other. It is equivalent to the English proverb 'Birds of a feather flock together' or 'Honor among thieves', often used in a negative context to highlight collusion between wrongdoers.

Like building a temple for a stray or thieving cattle.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who is unworthy, dishonest, or troublesome is given undue respect, honor, or protection. It highlights the irony and wastefulness of glorifying someone who does not deserve it.

Giving what was given and taking back what was taken

This expression is used to describe a situation where an exchange or transaction results in no net gain or change, essentially returning to the original state. It is often used to describe futile efforts or circular logic where one ends up exactly where they started.

Like waking the master, and giving the thief a stick. To hold with the hare, and hunt with the hounds.

This proverb describes a person who pretends to help but actually creates a dangerous situation or aids the enemy. It is used to refer to someone's double-dealing or treacherous behavior where they appear to alert the victim while simultaneously empowering the perpetrator.

Like giving a vessel to a bad man named Venkayya.

This proverb describes a situation where an unreliable or irresponsible person is given a task or an object, which they will inevitably ruin or lose. It is used when someone entrusts something valuable to a person known for their carelessness or bad character, leading to a predictable failure.