జాతినాగులను చంపుతూ, ప్రతిమనాగులకు పాలుపోసినట్లు.
jatinagulanu champutu, pratimanagulaku paluposinatlu.
Killing real cobras while offering milk to cobra idols.
This proverb describes hypocrisy or misplaced priorities. It refers to people who harm or neglect living beings in need but perform elaborate rituals for inanimate idols or symbols. It is used to criticize those who ignore their actual responsibilities or moral duties while maintaining a facade of piety or righteousness.
Related Phrases
తాకబోతే తగులకొన్నట్లు
takabote tagulakonnatlu
Like getting entangled when just trying to touch.
This expression is used to describe a situation where a simple or casual attempt to involve oneself in something leads to getting unexpectedly stuck, trapped, or deeply entangled in a complicated problem.
బలిస్తే గోకి చంపుతారు, చిక్కితే నాకి చంపుతారు
baliste goki champutaru, chikkite naki champutaru
If you are fat, they kill you by scratching; if you are thin, they kill you by licking.
This expression refers to people who are never satisfied and will find a way to exploit or bother you regardless of your status or condition. It is often used to describe toxic environments or manipulative individuals who harass others whether they are doing well (prosperous/fat) or struggling (weak/thin).
పాముకు పాలుపోసి పెంచినట్టు
pamuku paluposi penchinattu
Like feeding milk and raising a snake.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone helps or nurtures a person who is inherently dangerous or ungrateful, and who will eventually turn around and harm their benefactor. It serves as a warning against trusting or aiding individuals with a malicious nature.
రాలిన పళ్ళు వేగినగుళ్ళు
ralina pallu veginagullu
Fallen teeth are like roasted grains
This expression is used to describe something that is permanently lost or damaged and cannot be restored to its original state. Just as roasted grains can never sprout again and fallen teeth cannot grow back, certain actions or losses in life are irreversible.
పాపమని పాలుపోస్తే, వద్దని వలకబోసినాడట
papamani paluposte, vaddani valakabosinadata
When milk was poured out of pity, he spilled it saying he didn't want it.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone shows ungratefulness or arrogance toward an act of kindness. It refers to a person who rejects or wastes a gesture of help or charity that was offered to them in their time of need.
పాముకు పాలు పోసినట్లు
pamuku palu posinatlu
Feeding a snake with milk.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone helps or shows kindness to a wicked or ungrateful person, who in turn ends up harming the benefactor. It highlights the futility and danger of nurturing someone with an inherently malicious nature.
Showing kindness to an ungrateful person.
గడ్డిపారలకు పగులని బండలు, చెట్లవేళ్ళకు చెప్పకుండా పగులుతాయి
gaddiparalaku pagulani bandalu, chetlavellaku cheppakunda pagulutayi
Rocks that do not break for crowbars will break silently for the roots of trees.
This proverb highlights that persistent, gentle, and quiet efforts can often achieve what brute force and loud confrontation cannot. It is used to describe how patience and consistency can overcome even the hardest obstacles or toughest people, similar to how soft roots can split massive boulders over time.
ఏరు దాటిన తర్వాత తెప్ప తగలబెట్టినట్లు
eru datina tarvata teppa tagalabettinatlu
Like burning the raft after crossing the river
This expression describes a person who displays extreme ingratitude or selfishness. It refers to someone who uses others' help or resources to overcome a difficult situation and then immediately discards or destroys those resources (or cuts ties with the helper) once their purpose is served, showing no regard for future needs or the kindness received.
పాపమని పాలుపోస్తే, పలుచనని పారబోసినాడట.
papamani paluposte, paluchanani parabosinadata.
When milk was given out of pity, he poured it out saying it was too thin.
This proverb describes someone who is ungrateful or overly critical of an act of kindness. It is used when a person receives help or a gift but instead of being thankful, they find minor faults in it and reject or complain about it.
పోకల కుండ చట్రాతి మీద పగులగొట్టినట్లు
pokala kunda chatrati mida pagulagottinatlu
Like breaking a pot of betel nuts on a flat stone.
This expression is used to describe an action that is done very quickly, decisively, or loudly. Just as smashing a clay pot full of hard betel nuts against a stone results in a sudden, sharp, and total shattering, this refers to saying something bluntly or finishing a task with sudden force without any hesitation.