కాళ్ళబెట్టి నేల రాచినట్టు.

kallabetti nela rachinattu.

Translation

Burning and rubbing on the ground. Annoying and ill-treating another.

Meaning

This expression describes someone who is extremely shy, hesitant, or feeling guilty. It refers to the physical habit of dragging or twisting one's toes on the ground when they are too embarrassed to speak or face someone directly.

Related Phrases

A man that puts the pot of ghî on the floor, and the empty pot in the sling. The eye is blind if the mind is absent. ( Italian. )

This proverb describes a person who lacks common sense or priority. It refers to someone who neglects valuable things (ghee) while carefully preserving useless things (empty pot), highlighting foolishness or inverted priorities in decision-making.

Rising off the ground and fencing in the air. If you loose your footing you will loose your power. ( Brown's Tel. Dict. )

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone attempts to do something without a solid foundation or ignores basic, practical realities. It highlights the foolishness of trying to achieve advanced results while neglecting the fundamental roots or necessary support systems. Similar to 'building castles in the air'.

When all the snakes raised their heads, the earthworm also raised its head.

This proverb is used to mock someone who tries to imitate or compete with people of much higher status, capability, or importance, despite lacking the same qualities. It highlights the absurdity of an insignificant person trying to act like a significant one.

Like setting a house on fire and then pouring water with a sieve.

This expression is used to describe a person who causes a massive disaster or problem through their own actions and then tries to fix it using completely ineffective or futile methods. It highlights the stupidity of trying to solve a self-inflicted crisis with tools that cannot possibly work.

Like lifting an empty pot onto the sling and placing the ghee pot on the floor.

This proverb describes a person who lacks judgment and priorities. It refers to someone who values useless things while neglecting or mismanaging valuable assets. It is used to point out foolish decisions where one gives importance to the trivial and ignores the essential.

As the Cassia blossoms. Rēla chettu is the Cassia ( Cathartocarpus ) Fistula.

This expression is used to describe something that appears in great abundance or looks exceptionally beautiful all at once. Just as the Rela tree bursts into vibrant yellow blossoms covering the entire tree during its season, this phrase refers to a sudden, striking, or grand display of beauty or prosperity.

* O dia de amanbā ninguem o vio.

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.

Like the fig blossoming.

This expression is used to describe something that happens very rarely or an event that is almost never seen. Since the flowers of a fig tree are contained within the fruit and are not visible to the naked eye, it implies an occurrence that is a rare sight or a unique phenomenon.

This tree ( Ficus Glomerata ) bears no apparent blossoms. That is as likely as to see a hog fly.

The woman who was asked to cook ended up laying the household men to rest.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who was brought in to help or perform a simple task ends up causing complete destruction or ruin. It highlights the irony of a person’s incompetence or malicious nature resulting in a disaster far worse than the original problem they were meant to solve.

A man who sets fire to the whole heap and begins to eat parched grain. The work of a fool.

This expression describes a person who causes a massive loss to someone else or to society for a very small, trivial personal gain. It highlights extreme selfishness and a lack of proportion.