కొత్త నీరు వచ్చి పాత నీరు కొట్టుకుపోయినట్లు
kotta niru vachchi pata niru kottukupoyinatlu
The new water came and washed away the old water. A little gain once was the cause of all being lost eventually.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where new people, ideas, or trends replace old ones completely. It is often used when a newcomer takes over the position or influence of someone who has been there for a long time, or when modern methods render traditional ones obsolete.
Related Phrases
నీరు పల్లమెరుగు, నిజం దేవుడెరుగు (నీరు నిల్లవ వంకనే పారుతుంది)
niru pallamerugu, nijam devuderugu (niru nillava vankane parutundi)
Water runs towards water. Men haste to help those of their own caste, &c.
This proverb is used to describe things that naturally follow a specific path or instinct. Just as water naturally flows toward lower ground (slopes), certain events or human tendencies are inevitable. It is often used to imply that truth will eventually come out or that people naturally gravitate towards their own kind or interests.
ఊరికి వచ్చినమ్మ నీరుకు రాదా?
uriki vachchinamma niruku rada?
Will the lady who came to the village not come to the well for water?
This proverb is used to describe a situation that is inevitable or bound to happen. Just as a woman visiting a village will eventually need to go to the communal water source, a person involved in a particular situation will eventually have to face its natural consequences or perform the expected next steps.
నెమలి కంట నీరు కారితే వేటగానికి ముద్దా?
nemali kanta niru karite vetaganiki mudda?
If the peacock shed tears, will the hunter's heart be moved ?
This expression means that a person with malicious intent or a cold heart will not be moved by the suffering or tears of their victim. It is used to describe situations where someone remains indifferent to another's pain because their goal is to exploit or harm them.
నీరు పల్లమెరుగు, నిజం దేవుడెరుగు (నీరు పల్లపు వంకకే పారును గాని, మిట్టలకెక్కునా)
niru pallamerugu, nijam devuderugu (niru pallapu vankake parunu gani, mittalakekkuna)
Water only flows towards the slope; will it ever climb the heights?
This proverb signifies that just as water naturally flows to the lowest point, wealth or benefits naturally flow to those who are already influential or in a position of advantage. It is used to describe how resources often accumulate where they are already abundant, rather than reaching those in need or in difficult positions.
ఏరు నిండి పారినా పాత్రకు తగురీతి నీరు వచ్చు
eru nindi parina patraku taguriti niru vachchu
Even if the river flows full, a vessel will only get as much water as its capacity.
This proverb emphasizes that opportunities or resources may be abundant, but one can only benefit based on their own capacity, effort, or merit. It is used to describe situations where a person's limitations prevent them from taking full advantage of a grand situation.
కోడలి మొగుడు కొట్టం పట్టుకొని పడ్డాడట
kodali mogudu kottam pattukoni paddadata
It is said the daughter-in-law's husband is clinging to the cowshed.
This expression is used to describe someone who refers to their own family members or close relatives in a roundabout, distant, or overly formal way instead of using the direct relationship. In this case, the 'daughter-in-law's husband' is actually the speaker's own son. It highlights an absurd or unnecessarily complicated way of identifying someone familiar.
ఊరి పిడుగు వచ్చి వీరిశెట్టిని కొట్టుకొని పోయినది
uri pidugu vachchi virishettini kottukoni poyinadi
The misfortune of the village has carried off Viriśetti. The story is as follows: A burglar in digging through the wall of a house was killed by the wall falling upon him; his wife prosecuted the owner of the house for having badly built walls; the house owner blamed the builder; the builder blamed a woman who had distracted his attention while at his work, by passing by that way; the woman blamed a goldsmith to whom she was going to get certain jewels which he had not finished for her; the goldsmith blamed the banker for not letting him have gold in time; the banker was sentenced accordingly to be impaled, but on the point of being put to death he suggested that the size of the instruments would be much better suited to fat Viriśetti ( to whom he owed a grudge ); fat Viriśetti was executed accordingly. This happened at Anyāyapura ( the city of in- justice ). The innocent suffering for the guilty.
This expression refers to a situation where a common or public problem unexpectedly targets a specific individual. It is often used to describe instances where a general calamity or a random unfortunate event causes personal loss to someone, or when a person is unfairly singled out by fate during a widespread crisis.
అత్త చచ్చిన ఆరు మాసములకు కోడలి కంట నీరు వచ్చినదట
atta chachchina aru masamulaku kodali kanta niru vachchinadata
Six months after the death of the mother-in-law, tears came into the eyes of the daughter-in-law.
This proverb describes a situation where a person shows a delayed, insincere, or hypocritical emotional reaction. It is used to mock someone who pretends to care about a loss or an event long after it happened, or when their reaction is clearly performative rather than genuine.
నీరు విడిచిన మొసలి - నీరు విడిచిన చేప
niru vidichina mosali - niru vidichina chepa
A crocodile out of water - a fish out of water
These two expressions describe loss of power and vulnerability. A crocodile out of water (నీరు విడిచిన మొసలి) refers to a powerful person who loses their strength and authority when removed from their natural environment or position. A fish out of water (నీరు విడిచిన చేప) refers to someone who is helpless, extremely uncomfortable, or unable to survive in an alien environment. Both are used to highlight how strength and survival are dependent on the right context or surroundings.
మున్నీరు చేయూతతో ఈదినట్లు
munniru cheyutato idinatlu
Like trying to swim across the ocean with just hand support.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone attempts a massive, near-impossible task with very minimal or insignificant help. It highlights the inadequacy of the resources or assistance provided compared to the scale of the challenge.