కోతి టెంకాయ త్రుంచగలదు కానీ నీరు తాగగలదా?

koti tenkaya trunchagaladu kani niru tagagalada?

Translation

A monkey can break a coconut, but can it drink the water?

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where someone can easily destroy or disrupt something but lacks the skill, wisdom, or capability to actually benefit from it or handle the outcome. It is used to critique people who act impulsively or destructively without a plan for the final goal.

Related Phrases

Like beating a shaven head with a cocoanut. As used to be done to a Sannyâsi ( religious mendicant ) by his disciples when he was about to die.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is being extremely harsh, blunt, or unkind to a vulnerable person. It signifies a lack of empathy or a direct, painful impact on someone who has no protection against the action.

Coconut spice/masala for brinjal curry

This expression refers to a perfect combination or an ideal match. Just as coconut masala enhances the taste of brinjal curry, it is used to describe two things or people that complement each other perfectly to produce a great result.

Like a high-quality coconut.

This expression refers to a person who may appear tough, hard, or indifferent on the outside but possesses a soft, kind, and pure heart within. It is used to describe someone with a strong exterior but a compassionate nature.

Will a dog be able to enjoy a coconut?

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person is unable to appreciate or utilize something valuable or high-quality that has come their way. Just as a dog cannot break or eat a whole coconut despite having it in its mouth, an unworthy or unskilled person cannot benefit from a great opportunity or a sophisticated item.

Like a monkey finding a coconut

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone gains possession of something valuable or complex but has no idea how to use, appreciate, or manage it. Just as a monkey cannot crack open a hard coconut to eat the fruit inside, an incompetent or unqualified person cannot benefit from a resource they have acquired.

A dog can bite through the ropes of the hanging net, but can it catch the milk pot without letting it fall?

This proverb is used to describe a person who has the capacity to cause destruction or ruin a plan, but lacks the skill or intention to handle the consequences or perform the task constructively. It highlights that creating a mess is easy, but managing the outcome requires a different set of abilities.

Will a man who steals a brinjal not steal a coconut?

This proverb suggests that a person who commits a small crime or dishonesty is likely to commit a larger one given the opportunity. It emphasizes that a lack of integrity starts small but can escalate, and one's character is judged by even minor actions. It is used to warn people not to trust someone who has a history of even trivial dishonesty.

A crow can snatch a nose-stud and drop it in a bush, but can it eat it?

This expression refers to someone who causes harm or takes away something valuable from others even though they cannot benefit from it themselves. It is used to describe spiteful or useless interference where the perpetrator gains nothing but the victim loses everything.

Will the person who stole a brinjal not come for a coconut?

This proverb suggests that a person who commits a small crime or dishonesty will eventually move on to bigger ones. It is used to imply that character is defined by the act of stealing itself, not the value of the object stolen. If someone can justify small wrongdoings, they are capable of larger ones as well.

If you throw ten stones, will not one hit?

This expression is used to describe a strategy of making multiple attempts or trying various approaches in the hope that at least one will be successful. It is often used in contexts like job hunting, marketing, or problem-solving where quantity increases the probability of success.