కాళ్ళకు మొక్కేవాడు పోయి, కంఠాన్ని పట్టుకొనేవాడు వచ్చినట్లు.
kallaku mokkevadu poyi, kanthanni pattukonevadu vachchinatlu.
Like one who bows to the feet leaving, and one who grabs the throat arriving.
This proverb describes a situation where a manageable or respectful problem is replaced by a much more aggressive, dangerous, or life-threatening one. It is used when a situation goes from being mild or submissive to being hostile and suffocating.
Related Phrases
కొలిచేవాడూ గుడ్డి, కొలిపించుకొనేవాడూ గుడ్డి.
kolichevadu guddi, kolipinchukonevadu guddi.
The man who measures [the grain] is blind, and the man who has had it measured is blind also (i.e., the buyer and the seller.) Defects on both sides.
This proverb describes a situation where both parties involved in a transaction or task are ignorant or incompetent. It is used when a leader and their follower (or a seller and a buyer) both lack the necessary knowledge or judgment, inevitably leading to a flawed outcome or mutual deception.
తనకాళ్ళకు తానే మొక్కుకొన్నట్లు
tanakallaku tane mokkukonnatlu
As if one is bowing down to their own feet.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is extremely conceited, self-admiring, or overly proud of their own actions and intelligence. It highlights the irony of self-veneration or thinking too highly of oneself to the point of absurdity.
సంతకు పోయి వచ్చిన ముఖం
santaku poyi vachchina mukham
A face that looks like it just returned from a weekly market
This expression is used to describe someone who looks extremely exhausted, weary, or dull after a long, tiring activity or a chaotic event. Just as a person returning from a crowded, dusty, and loud village market (santa) looks drained of energy, this phrase highlights a person's physical or mental fatigue.
తల దన్నేవాడు పోతే, తాడి తన్నేవాడు వస్తాడు
tala dannevadu pote, tadi tannevadu vastadu
If a man who kicks heads leaves, a man who kicks palm trees will arrive
This proverb is used to warn that if one problematic or clever person leaves, they might be replaced by someone even more difficult, smarter, or more dangerous. It implies that things can always get more intense or that there is always someone superior in skill or mischief.
తోలు కొరికేవాడు పోతే, బొమికలు నమిలేవాడు వస్తాడు.
tolu korikevadu pote, bomikalu namilevadu vastadu.
If the one who bites the skin leaves, the one who chews the bones will arrive.
This proverb is used to warn that replacing a bad person or situation might lead to an even worse alternative. It suggests that sometimes the current hardship, though difficult, is more manageable than the potential unknown trouble that follows. It is similar to the English expression 'out of the frying pan and into the fire'.
గొర్రెను తినేవాడు పోతే, బర్రెను తినేవాడు వచ్చినట్టు.
gorrenu tinevadu pote, barrenu tinevadu vachchinattu.
When the man who ate sheep went, a man who ate buffa- los came. Parting with one rascal and getting a greater scoundrel in his place.
This expression is used to describe a situation where an existing problem or a bad person is replaced by something or someone even worse. It highlights that instead of finding relief, one has ended up with a more difficult or greedy person/situation.
మాంసం తినేవాడు పోతే, బొమికలు తినేవాడు వస్తాడు
mamsam tinevadu pote, bomikalu tinevadu vastadu
If the one who eats meat leaves, the one who eats bones will come.
This proverb is used to warn that if a bad person or a difficult situation is replaced, the successor might be even worse or more exploitative. It highlights the fear that the 'new' might be more desperate or damaging than the 'old'.
నిద్రపోయే వాడి కాళ్లకు మొక్కినట్టు
nidrapoye vadi kallaku mokkinattu
Like falling at the feet of a sleeping man. Useless endeavours at a wrong time.
This expression describes a situation where an action is completely futile or pointless because the recipient is unaware or unable to respond. It is used when someone seeks help or expresses gratitude to someone who is indifferent, incapable of understanding, or inattentive, rendering the effort wasted.
మందుకు పోయినవాడు మాసికానికి వచ్చినట్లు
manduku poyinavadu masikaniki vachchinatlu
Like a person who went to fetch medicine returning in time for the monthly funeral rites.
This proverb is used to describe someone who is extremely slow or procrastinates to a ridiculous extent. It depicts a situation where a person sent to get life-saving medicine for a patient returns so late that the patient has already died and it is time for the 'Masikam' (a ritual performed one month after death).
వచ్చిన వాడు చచ్చినా పోదు.
vachchina vadu chachchina podu.
Calumny is not removed even by death.
This expression is used to describe a deeply ingrained habit, trait, or skill that stays with a person throughout their lifetime. It suggests that once something is learned or becomes part of a person's nature, it is nearly impossible to change or get rid of it.
Slander leaves a slur. Give a dog an ill name, and you may as well hang him.