మాంసం తినేవాడు పోతే, బొమికలు తినేవాడు వస్తాడు
mamsam tinevadu pote, bomikalu tinevadu vastadu
If the one who eats meat leaves, the one who eats bones will come.
This proverb is used to warn that if a bad person or a difficult situation is replaced, the successor might be even worse or more exploitative. It highlights the fear that the 'new' might be more desperate or damaging than the 'old'.
Related Phrases
అడుక్కుతినేవాడింటికి తీర్థయాత్రలకెళ్ళేవాడొచ్చినట్లు
adukkutinevadintiki tirthayatralakellevadochchinatlu
Like a pilgrim visiting the house of a beggar.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is already in a miserable or poor condition is visited by someone else who is equally or even more destitute, looking for help. It highlights the irony of seeking assistance from someone who has nothing to give.
ఎండితే తరుగుతుందని పచ్చిదే తినేవాడు.
endite tarugutundani pachchide tinevadu.
One who eats it raw because it might shrink if dried.
This expression describes an extremely stingy or miserly person. It refers to someone who is so obsessed with quantity and saving that they would rather consume something in its inferior, raw state (like wet grain or wood) just to avoid the natural, slight loss in volume or weight that occurs during the drying process.
కుక్క మాంసం తినే రకం
kukka mamsam tine rakam
A type that eats dog meat
Used to describe a person with an extremely low character, someone who is unscrupulous, or someone capable of doing anything for personal gain without any moral boundaries.
పందులు తినేవాని పక్కనే ఏనుగులు గుటకేసేవాడుంటాడు.
pandulu tinevani pakkane enugulu gutakesevaduntadu.
Next to the one who eats pigs, there will be someone who gulps down elephants.
This proverb is used to describe how there is always someone more extreme, greedy, or skilled than oneself. It serves as a reminder that no matter how big a person's actions or appetite (metaphorically) may be, they will eventually encounter someone who surpasses them in those very traits.
అడుక్కొని తినేవాడు పెరుగన్నము కోరినట్లు
adukkoni tinevadu perugannamu korinatlu
Like a beggar asking for curd rice.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is in a desperate or dependent situation but still makes high demands or shows excessive fussiness. It refers to someone who lacks the basic means to survive yet expects luxuries or specific preferences that are beyond their current status.
ఏరుకు తినేవాడి వెంబడి గీరుక తినేవాడు పడ్డాడట
eruku tinevadi vembadi giruka tinevadu paddadata
Behind the person who gathers and eats, followed the person who scrapes and eats.
This expression is used to describe a situation where a person who is already poor or struggling is burdened by someone even worse off. It highlights the irony of a needy person being followed by someone seeking help from them, despite having nothing to give.
ఒక పూట తినేవాడు యోగి, రెండు పూటలు తినేవాడు భోగి, మూడు పూటలా తినేవాడు రోగి
oka puta tinevadu yogi, rendu putalu tinevadu bhogi, mudu putala tinevadu rogi
One who eats once a day is a Yogi, one who eats twice a day is a Bhogi, one who eats thrice a day is a Rogi
This traditional Telugu proverb highlights the health benefits of moderation in eating. It suggests that eating once a day leads to spiritual and physical discipline (Yogi), eating twice a day is for those enjoying a worldly life (Bhogi), while eating three or more times a day leads to sickness or a diseased state (Rogi).
తల దన్నేవాడు పోతే, తాడి తన్నేవాడు వస్తాడు
tala dannevadu pote, tadi tannevadu vastadu
If a man who kicks heads leaves, a man who kicks palm trees will arrive
This proverb is used to warn that if one problematic or clever person leaves, they might be replaced by someone even more difficult, smarter, or more dangerous. It implies that things can always get more intense or that there is always someone superior in skill or mischief.
తోలు కొరికేవాడు పోతే, బొమికలు నమిలేవాడు వస్తాడు.
tolu korikevadu pote, bomikalu namilevadu vastadu.
If the one who bites the skin leaves, the one who chews the bones will arrive.
This proverb is used to warn that replacing a bad person or situation might lead to an even worse alternative. It suggests that sometimes the current hardship, though difficult, is more manageable than the potential unknown trouble that follows. It is similar to the English expression 'out of the frying pan and into the fire'.
గొర్రెను తినేవాడు పోతే, బర్రెను తినేవాడు వచ్చినట్టు.
gorrenu tinevadu pote, barrenu tinevadu vachchinattu.
When the man who ate sheep went, a man who ate buffa- los came. Parting with one rascal and getting a greater scoundrel in his place.
This expression is used to describe a situation where an existing problem or a bad person is replaced by something or someone even worse. It highlights that instead of finding relief, one has ended up with a more difficult or greedy person/situation.