కన్నపుదొంగ వాడలేదని ముంత ఇంటివానిని వదలిపోవునా?

kannapudonga vadaledani munta intivanini vadalipovuna?

Translation

Will a burglar leave the house owner alone just because the clay pot didn't fit through the hole?

Meaning

This proverb highlights that an enemy or a person with bad intentions will not stop causing trouble just because one particular attempt failed. It is used to caution someone that a small failure for an aggressor doesn't mean the danger has passed for the victim.

Related Phrases

Time passes away, but the word remains.

This proverb emphasizes the lasting impact of one's words. While time inevitably moves forward and situations change, the promises made or the words spoken (whether kind or hurtful) stay in people's memories and hold permanent value or consequences.

There is always someone who can kick the head of a person as tall as a palm tree.

This proverb conveys that no matter how powerful, tall, or talented a person is, there will always be someone even more capable or superior. It is used to humble those who are overconfident or arrogant about their status, reminding them that there is always a bigger fish in the sea.

Hands do not move for the work that is asked to be done, but they demand to leave the work that is asked not to be done.

This proverb describes a person who is lazy and uncooperative. It is used to mock someone who shows no interest or effort in performing their actual duties (the hands don't come forward) but is quick to abandon or complain about things they were told to avoid in the first place. Essentially, it highlights a character that is useless in action but active in excuses or contrary behavior.

A poor man's wife is a sister-in-law to the whole village.

This proverb highlights how people tend to take liberties with those who lack social or financial standing. Just as a 'Vadina' (sister-in-law) is someone one can joke with or command in a traditional family, a poor person's family is often treated with a lack of respect or boundaries by everyone in society because they lack the power to protest.

As if a face like the moon arrived and immediately caused a sunstroke.

This expression is used to describe a situation where something that appeared beautiful or promising at first glance unexpectedly resulted in a harsh or painful experience immediately upon arrival. It highlights the irony of a pleasant presence causing sudden distress.

The one who does not work is a thief to the house; the one who does not pay taxes is a thief to the government.

This proverb highlights personal and civic responsibilities. It suggests that a family member who doesn't contribute labor is a burden to the household, just as a citizen who evades taxes is a traitor to the state (divanam). It is used to emphasize that laziness and tax evasion are both forms of dishonesty.

Inviting someone who won't come is a celebration.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone makes a grand or polite gesture knowing full well that it won't be accepted or fulfilled. It implies a sense of relief or hollow formality, where the host offers something for the sake of appearances because they are certain the other person will decline, thus saving the host from any real effort or expense.

Will we abandon the pot every time our hand gets burnt?

This proverb is used to emphasize perseverance and resilience. It suggests that just because we face a minor setback, injury, or difficulty while performing a necessary task, we should not abandon the task entirely. It is commonly used to encourage someone to keep going despite challenges or mistakes.

Like leaving one's own work to follow a weaver.

This proverb is used to describe a person who abandons their own important duties or responsibilities to aimlessly follow or interfere with someone else's work, especially when that interference is unproductive. It highlights a lack of focus and the foolishness of neglecting one's own livelihood.

A poor man's wife is a sister-in-law to the whole village.

This proverb illustrates how people in power or those with higher social status often take liberties with or lack respect for those who are vulnerable or lack protection. It suggests that when someone is poor or weak, everyone feels entitled to treat them with over-familiarity or disregard their dignity.