కష్టపడి ఇల్లు కట్టి, కల్లు తాగి తగులబెట్టినట్లు

kashtapadi illu katti, kallu tagi tagulabettinatlu

Translation

Like building a house with hard work and then setting it on fire after drinking toddy.

Meaning

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.

Related Phrases

One must work like a buffalo, and eat like a gentleman.

This proverb emphasizes the value of hard work and its rewards. It suggests that one should toil rigorously and tirelessly (like a buffalo in the fields) during their working years or phase so that they can eventually enjoy a life of luxury, comfort, and dignity (like a lord or nobleman).

Even if you suffer a loss, you should not lose your character.

This expression emphasizes that maintaining one's integrity and moral standards is more important than financial or material success. It suggests that while losing money or property is a temporary setback, losing one's reputation or character (becoming 'bhrashtu') is a permanent failure. It is used to encourage ethical behavior even in difficult times.

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.

A date palm tree's shade is not real shade, a palmyra tree is not a mother.

This proverb highlights that not everything that appears beneficial is actually helpful. The shade of a date palm is too sparse to provide relief, and while a palmyra tree is tall and useful, it lacks the nurturing quality of a mother. It is used to describe things or people that are inadequate despite their outward appearance or status.

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 placing butter on the head and tying a waistband made of prawns.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is being extremely foolish or setting themselves up for a loss. Placing butter on the head (which melts in the sun) and using prawns (which are scavenged by crows and dogs) as a waistband implies that the person's assets or efforts will quickly vanish or be snatched away due to poor planning.

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.

Like building a dam after the water has already flowed away

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone takes corrective action or precautions after the damage has already been done and it is too late to be effective. It is similar to the English proverb 'locking the stable door after the horse has bolted'.

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.

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.