కన్ను మూస్తే కల

kannu muste kala

Translation

If you shut your eyes, a dream. After death the unreality of things temporal appears.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe something that is extremely fleeting, temporary, or ephemeral. It signifies that life or a specific situation is as momentary as a dream that disappears the moment you wake up.

Related Phrases

Burnt earth will not adhere to unburnt. People in different positions in life cannot be very intimate.

This expression is used to describe two people or entities that are fundamentally incompatible or cannot reconcile their differences. Just as burnt clay/soil loses its binding property and cannot merge with raw, unburnt soil, people with opposing natures or those who have had a major falling out cannot be easily brought back together.

If you nurture me, I will drown you.

This expression refers to a situation where a person helps or supports someone who eventually turns against them or becomes the cause of their downfall. It is often used to describe ungrateful people or dangerous situations where the beneficiary becomes a threat to the benefactor, similar to the concept of 'nurturing a snake'.

It matters not whether the blind eye is open or shut. A useless man's absence is as good as his presence.

This proverb is used to describe a situation or action that yields no benefit or makes no difference regardless of the effort or choice made. It refers to something that is fundamentally useless or redundant, where the outcome remains unchanged by any change in state.

If you look after me, I will protect you.

This is a popular Telugu saying often used in the context of money or savings (Dhanam). It suggests that if you manage your resources wisely and take care of your wealth, it will in turn protect you during difficult times or when you are in need.

The birth mother looks at the stomach, the wife looks at the back.

This proverb highlights the difference in perspectives of caregivers. A mother is primarily concerned with her child's well-being and whether they have eaten (the stomach), whereas a wife or the world may look at what the person has brought home or their capacity for labor (the back/burden). It is used to describe the selfless nature of maternal love compared to the practical expectations of other relationships.

If you shut up her mouth she remains like a dumb woman, if you let her open her mouth she's a vixen.

This expression is used to describe a person who seems decent or tolerable as long as they stay quiet, but as soon as they start speaking, they reveal their unpleasant nature, lack of sense, or rude behavior. It emphasizes that for some people, silence is their only redeeming quality.

One eye is a flower eye, the other eye is a fruit eye.

This expression is used to describe partiality or double standards shown by a person. It refers to a situation where someone treats one person or side with kindness and favor (the soft flower) while treating another with harshness or severity (the hard unripe fruit).

Like the back of the head speaking when the mouth is closed.

This expression is used to describe a person who is exceptionally stubborn, argumentative, or persistent. It implies that even if you manage to silence them or win an argument, they will still find a way to have the last word or continue their defiance through some other means.

The greatness of a biological father is realized only when he closes his eyes (dies)

This expression highlights that people often fail to appreciate the value, hard work, and sacrifices of a father while he is alive. His importance is truly felt only after he is no longer there to provide support and protection. It is used to advise people to respect and care for their parents while they are still living.

When the mother dies, the stomach grows; when hair is tied, the bun looks big

This proverb highlights how people manage and move on after a loss. It suggests that once the person who feeds and cares for the family (the mother) is gone, one learns to fend for themselves or overeat out of lack of discipline, and that appearances can be deceptive or managed once the initial mourning period ends.