కొంగు తగిలినా కొంత మేలే
kongu tagilina konta mele
Even the touch of the corner of a garment is somewhat beneficial.
This expression is used to describe a situation where even a small or indirect association with a great, powerful, or lucky person brings some benefit or positive influence. It emphasizes that even the slightest contact with greatness is better than nothing at all.
Related Phrases
తగిలిన వేలికే మళ్ళీ తగులుతుంది.
tagilina velike malli tagulutundi.
The toe that is already injured is the one that gets hit again.
This proverb is used to describe a streak of bad luck or a situation where troubles seem to accumulate for someone who is already suffering. It is similar to the English expression 'When it rains, it pours.'
ఇనుముకు తగిలిన పీడ ఇంగలానికి తగిలింది
inumuku tagilina pida ingalaniki tagilindi
The trouble that befell the iron has now befallen the charcoal.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where an innocent associate or a bystander suffers the same harsh punishment or hardship as the main culprit. Just as charcoal is burnt and exhausted while heating iron in a forge, an innocent person often gets caught up and destroyed in the process of dealing with a problematic person or situation.
గుడ్డివేటు గువ్వకు తగిలినట్లు
guddivetu guvvaku tagilinatlu
Like a blind shot hitting a bird
This proverb describes a situation where success is achieved by pure luck or accident rather than by skill, effort, or planning. It is used when someone accomplishes a goal unintentionally or through a random occurrence.
తగిలిన కాలికే తగులును, నొగిలిన కొంపే నొగులును.
tagilina kalike tagulunu, nogilina kompe nogulunu.
The toe that is already stubbed gets stubbed again; the house that is already suffering suffers more.
This proverb describes how misfortunes often pile up on those who are already struggling. It is used to convey that troubles tend to haunt the same person repeatedly, similar to the English expression 'When it rains, it pours.'
మేయబోయి మెడకు తగిలించుకొన్నట్లు
meyaboyi medaku tagilinchukonnatlu
Like going to graze and getting it stuck around the neck
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone attempts to gain a benefit or take advantage of something, but instead ends up getting trapped in a problem or creating a new liability for themselves. It is similar to the English concept of 'getting more than one bargained for' in a negative sense.
కుండ వెళ్లి బిందెకు తగిలినా, బిందె వచ్చి కుండకు తగిలినా కుండకే నష్టం
kunda velli bindeku tagilina, binde vachchi kundaku tagilina kundake nashtam
Whether the clay pot goes and hits the brass pot, or the brass pot comes and hits the clay pot, it is the clay pot that gets damaged.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a weak or vulnerable person is always the one who suffers in a conflict with a powerful person, regardless of who started the fight or how it occurred. It emphasizes that in an unequal power dynamic, the consequences are always borne by the weaker party.
వెదకబోయిన తీగ కాలికి తగిలినట్లు
vedakaboyina tiga kaliki tagilinatlu
Like the vine you were searching for entangling your own foot.
This expression is used when you are searching for someone or something, and unexpectedly, that person or thing appears before you or crosses your path without any effort. It signifies a stroke of luck where a solution presents itself just when you were about to start looking for it.
కొంగు తాకితే కోటి వరహాలు
kongu takite koti varahalu
A touch of the sari's edge is worth ten million gold coins.
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely stingy or protective of their wealth. It implies that the person is so miserly that even a slight accidental contact with them or their clothing is treated as a major loss or a demand for a fortune. It can also sarcastically describe someone who thinks too highly of their own value or status.
తగిలిన కాలే తగులుతుంది.
tagilina kale tagulutundi.
A wounded foot is always striking against something.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where misfortunes or problems seem to follow a person who is already in trouble. It is similar to the English expression 'misfortunes never come singly' or 'when it rains, it pours.' It highlights how vulnerable points are often the ones that suffer repeated setbacks.
గంతకు తగిన బొంత
gantaku tagina bonta
Like packsaddle, like quilt.
This expression is used to describe two people or things that are a perfect match for each other, often in a sarcastic or negative sense (like two equally lazy or cunning people). It is the Telugu equivalent of the English phrase 'Like father, like son' or 'A chip off the old block', implying that the quality or nature of one thing matches the other perfectly.
Like pot, like cover. (Dutch.)*