కుడితిలో పడ్డ ఎలుకలా

kuditilo padda elukala

Translation

Like a rat fallen into a pot of grain wash water.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe someone who is in a state of confusion, panic, or helplessness. Just as a rat struggles desperately and aimlessly when trapped in a thick liquid (kudithi), it refers to a person caught in a difficult situation without knowing how to escape.

Related Phrases

The chicken that got used to eating well ended up crowing from the rooftop.

This proverb is used to describe a person who becomes overly bold, arrogant, or demanding after being pampered or given too much freedom. It suggests that when someone is treated with excessive indulgence, they lose their sense of boundaries and start acting in a disrespectful or entitled manner.

The starch applied to a saree does not come back to be eaten.

This expression is used to describe an irreversible expenditure or investment. Just as starch used to stiffen a saree cannot be recovered or consumed as food (porridge) again, money or resources spent on certain luxuries or temporary needs cannot be reclaimed for essential purposes.

Like a mouse that fell into a pot of rice-wash (swill).

This expression describes a person who is stuck in a difficult or suffocating situation with no way out. Just as a mouse struggles helplessly when it falls into a deep pot of liquid, it refers to someone being trapped in a messy problem or a dilemma where their efforts to escape only lead to further exhaustion.

After eating the eggs, it climbed the nest and chirped/cried out.

This proverb is used to describe a person who, after committing a wrong or a crime, behaves arrogantly or draws attention to themselves instead of being repentant or discreet. It is similar to 'adding insult to injury' or the audacity of someone acting like a victim after being the perpetrator.

Will a barren cow yield milk just because you scratch its back?

This proverb is used to describe a situation where no matter how much effort, flattery, or 'scratching' you do, you cannot get a result from someone who is incapable or unwilling to provide it. It highlights the futility of seeking something from an unproductive source.

Does an elephant lose its dignity just because dogs bark at it?

This expression is used to convey that the status or reputation of a great person is not diminished by the petty criticisms or insults of insignificant or inferior people. It suggests that one should ignore baseless noise and maintain their composure.

Will an ox accustomed to nutritious wash-water drink plain water?

This proverb is used to describe a person who has experienced superior quality, luxury, or high standards and is no longer satisfied with ordinary or inferior alternatives. Just as an ox that enjoys protein-rich wash-water (kudithi) won't settle for plain water, a person who knows excellence will find it hard to go back to basic options.

Fatness depends on the sourness of the slop.

This expression is used to describe someone who shows undue pride or arrogance based on very limited or meager resources. Just as a cow might grow slightly plump from drinking leftover kitchen slop (kuditi), the 'fatness' or pride of the person is entirely dependent on something insignificant or temporary.

The lizard that predicts omens for everyone fell into the tub of washings.

This proverb is used to describe a hypocritical situation where a person who gives advice or predictions to others fails to avoid trouble themselves. It highlights the irony of someone who claims to know the future or the 'right way' but cannot manage their own simple affairs.

The dead buffalo used to give a potful of milk.

This proverb is used to describe the tendency of people to exaggerate the value or qualities of something or someone only after they are gone or lost. It highlights how people romanticize the past or overestimate the worth of a missed opportunity.