మేలు మేలంటే, మెడ విరగపడ్డట్టు.
melu melante, meda viragapaddattu.
When they cried "Bravo! Bravo!" he jumped down and broke his neck. Said of a vain man, who makes a fool of himself to please others.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone's attempt to help or do something good backfires or results in unintended harm. It describes an act of kindness that leads to a disaster, or a situation where a small request for a favor results in a disproportionate problem.
Related Phrases
మేడలు గుడిసెలు కావడం కన్నా, గుడిసెలు మేడలు కావడం మేలు.
medalu gudiselu kavadam kanna, gudiselu medalu kavadam melu.
It is better for huts to become mansions than for mansions to become huts.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of progress and upward mobility. It suggests that rising from poverty to wealth is a desirable journey, whereas falling from a high status to a low one is a tragedy. It is used to highlight the value of growth and the hardship of downfall.
మేలు మేలంటే, మెడ విరగబడ్డట్టు
melu melante, meda viragabaddattu
When praised as good, the neck broke.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone takes a compliment or a small success too far, resulting in overconfidence or pride that ultimately leads to their own downfall. It is similar to the English proverb 'Pride goes before a fall'.
చిన్నమూ కావలె, చిదరా కావలె, మేలిమీ కావలె, మెడ తిరగవలె.
chinnamu kavale, chidara kavale, melimi kavale, meda tiragavale.
The ornament must be one Chinnam or less in weight, of pure gold, and must go round the neck. A Chinnam is a weight equal to the ninth part of a pagoda ( No. 614 ). Wishing to get a good thing and to pay little for it.
This proverb describes a person who is extremely greedy and wants everything for themselves. It refers to someone who wants the big profits (pure gold), the small gains (loose change), and also wants to show off their wealth (turning the neck to display heavy jewelry). It is used to mock people who are never satisfied and try to grab every possible benefit in a situation.
మిన్ను విరిగి మీద పడ్డట్టు
minnu virigi mida paddattu
As if the sky had broken and fallen upon him. Said of any one sustaining a great shock by suddenly receiving bad news. Thunder-struck.
This expression is used to describe a sudden, overwhelming, or catastrophic event that happens unexpectedly. It conveys a sense of great shock or a situation where one feels like their entire world has collapsed instantly.
ఆరె మాను కింద బూరెల మాను విరగబడ్డట్టు
are manu kinda burela manu viragabaddattu
Like a tree loaded with cakes falling below an Âre tree.
This proverb is used to describe a stroke of unexpected, immense good luck or an extraordinary windfall happening in a common or unlikely place. It depicts a situation where someone gains something highly valuable (sweet fritters) without any effort, appearing as if a tree of treats fell right in front of them while they were just standing under an ordinary wild tree.
Âre is the Bauhinia Racemosa ; it bears fruit like cranberries. Great luck.
సైంధవుడు అడ్డపడ్డట్టు
saindhavudu addapaddattu
Like the hindrance of Saindhava.
This expression refers to a person who acts as a major obstacle or hurdle in a situation, preventing progress or success. It originates from the Mahabharata, where Jayadratha (Saindhava) blocked the Pandavas from entering the Padmavyuha to save Abhimanyu.
పాము చావకూడదు, బడితె విరగకూడదు
pamu chavakudadu, badite viragakudadu
The snake should not die, and the stick should not break.
This proverb describes a situation where one seeks a solution that resolves a conflict or achieves a goal without causing harm to anyone involved or damaging the resources used. It is used when suggesting a balanced, diplomatic, or 'win-win' approach to a delicate problem.
ఏనుగుకు కాలు విరగడమూ, దోమకు రెక్క విరగడమూ సమానమే.
enuguku kalu viragadamu, domaku rekka viragadamu samaname.
The loss of a wing is the same to a mosquito as the loss of a leg to an elephant. Proportionate losses.
This proverb highlights the relativity of loss or suffering. Even though an elephant's injury seems physically larger, the impact of the loss is equally devastating to the individual mosquito. It is used to emphasize that every living being's pain is significant to themselves, regardless of their size or status.
గుడ్డి కన్నా మెల్ల మేలు.
guddi kanna mella melu.
A squint eye is better than a blind eye.
This proverb is used to convey that having something imperfect or partial is better than having nothing at all. It is similar to the English expression 'Half a loaf is better than no bread' or 'Something is better than nothing.'
Of two evils choose the least.
భూమికి వాన మేలా అంటే, మేలే అన్నట్టు.
bhumiki vana mela ante, mele annattu.
When one asked "Is rain good for the earth?" another re- plied "It is good."
This expression is used to describe an obvious truth or a situation where a question is redundant because the answer is universally accepted. It highlights a self-evident benefit where there is no room for disagreement, similar to saying 'It goes without saying.'