కష్టపడి ఇల్లు కట్టి, కల్లు తాగి తగులబెట్టినట్లు
kashtapadi illu katti, kallu tagi tagulabettinatlu
Like building a house with great effort and then setting it on fire after getting drunk.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone works extremely hard to achieve something significant, only to ruin or destroy it through a single moment of foolishness, negligence, or an impulsive mistake. It highlights the tragedy of wasting long-term effort for a temporary lapse in judgment.
Related Phrases
కోతికి కల్లు తాగించినట్లు
kotiki kallu taginchinatlu
Like making a monkey drink toddy (palm wine)
This expression is used to describe a situation where a naturally mischievous or restless person becomes even more uncontrollable, chaotic, or hyperactive due to external factors. It is used when someone's existing negative traits are amplified by bad influence or circumstances.
ఇల్లు కాలబెట్టి, జల్లెడతో నీళ్లు పోసినట్లు
illu kalabetti, jalledato nillu posinatlu
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.
అసలే కోతి, దానికి తోడు కల్లు తాగింది, పైన తేలు కుట్టింది
asale koti, daniki todu kallu tagindi, paina telu kuttindi
Already a monkey, additionally it drank toddy, and on top of that, a scorpion stung it.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who is already naturally mischievous or unstable encounters further provocations that make their behavior uncontrollably worse. It describes a sequence of events that turn a bad situation into a total disaster.
కష్టపడి సుఖపడమన్నాడు.
kashtapadi sukhapadamannadu.
Work hard and then enjoy the happiness.
This expression emphasizes the importance of hard work as a prerequisite for success or comfort. It is used to advise someone that genuine satisfaction and prosperity come only after putting in dedicated effort and struggle.
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.
కష్టపడి ఇల్లు కట్టి, కల్లు తాగి తగులబెట్టినట్లు
kashtapadi illu katti, kallu tagi tagulabettinatlu
Like building a house with hard work and then setting it on fire after drinking toddy.
This proverb describes a person who works extremely hard to build something valuable or achieve success, only to ruin everything in a moment of reckless, foolish behavior or due to a bad habit. It is used to warn against self-destructive actions that undo years of effort.
దున్నలా కష్టపడి, దొరలా తినాలి
dunnala kashtapadi, dorala tinali
Work hard like an ox and eat like a lord.
This proverb emphasizes the value of hard work and self-sufficiency. It suggests that one should exert maximum effort in their labor (like a bullock/ox) so that they can eventually enjoy a luxurious and dignified life (like a lord or master) with the rewards of their toil.
రెండు పడవల మీద కాళ్లు పెట్టినట్లు
rendu padavala mida kallu pettinatlu
Like placing legs on two boats
This expression refers to a situation where a person is trying to pursue two different or conflicting paths at the same time. It signifies instability and the risk of failure in both endeavors, much like how one would fall into the water if the two boats they are standing on drift apart. It is used to advise someone to be decisive and commit to a single course of action.
నీళ్ళు మూటకట్టినట్లు
nillu mutakattinatlu
Like trying to tie water in a bundle
This expression describes an impossible task or an exercise in futility. It is used to refer to situations where someone tries to control or manage something that is inherently uncontainable, fleeting, or impossible to hold onto, much like the physical impossibility of bundling water in a cloth.
కష్టపడి సుఖపడమన్నారు
kashtapadi sukhapadamannaru
They said to work hard and then enjoy the happiness
This expression emphasizes the value of hard work as a prerequisite for success and comfort. It is used to motivate someone to put in effort now so they can reap the rewards and live peacefully later in life. It reflects the philosophy that true happiness is earned through diligence.