మేసే గాడిదను కూసే గాడిద చెరిపిందట

mese gadidanu kuse gadida cheripindata

Translation

The braying donkey spoiled the grazing donkey.

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where someone who is minding their own business and working productively is distracted or ruined by the foolish actions of another. It is used when a person's good progress is halted because they joined company with someone loud, lazy, or troublesome.

Related Phrases

The donkey that went to the city bit the donkey that went to the village.

This proverb is used to mock people who return from a big city or a prestigious position and act superior or arrogant toward those who stayed in their hometown or humble roots. It highlights the empty vanity of someone who feels elevated by their environment despite their basic nature remaining the same.

When the donkey tried to do the dog's job, its back broke.

This proverb is used to illustrate the consequences of interfering in someone else's business or trying to perform a task for which one is not suited or trained. It highlights that everyone has their own specific roles and responsibilities, and stepping out of one's domain can lead to failure or self-harm.

A hard field and donkey's milk

This proverb is used to describe a situation that is completely useless or yields no benefit despite hard work. Just as a hard, barren field produces no crop and a donkey's milk is generally not consumed, it refers to a wasted effort or a lost cause where the resources and results are both worthless.

Even if it carries sandalwood, a donkey is still a donkey.

This proverb means that external appearance or the company of greatness does not change one's inherent nature or lack of intelligence. It is used to describe someone who lacks wisdom or refinement despite being in a prestigious position or possessing valuable resources.

As time went on, the hunchbacked horse turned into a donkey.

This expression is used to describe a situation that gradually deteriorates or degrades over time instead of improving. It is often applied to projects, reputations, or quality that starts with some promise (even if flawed) but ends up becoming something much worse or inferior.

Treating a horse and a donkey as the same.

This expression is used to describe a situation where no distinction is made between excellence and mediocrity, or between something valuable and something worthless. It highlights a lack of judgment or fairness when a person of great merit is treated the same as someone with none.

The braying donkey came and spoiled the grazing donkey's business. When the one that was outside brayed, the other that was inside answer- ed and was consequently discovered and driven out of the field.

This proverb is used when a person who is idle or doing something useless interrupts and spoils the productive work of someone else. It highlights how a troublemaker can distract or ruin the focus of a person engaged in a helpful activity.

Donkey's chaos/clipping

This expression is used to describe a situation of extreme chaos, disorder, or a messy state of affairs. It often refers to something that is disorganized, nonsensical, or a noisy disturbance where nothing constructive is happening.

Like a donkey trying to do a dog's job

This expression is used when someone tries to perform a task that is not within their expertise or role, often resulting in failure or chaos. It highlights the importance of sticking to one's own responsibilities and strengths.

Even if you pour sandalwood powder on it, a donkey remains a donkey.

This proverb is used to describe a person who cannot change their inherent nature or lack of refinement, regardless of how much wealth, education, or luxury is bestowed upon them. It suggests that external appearances or decorations cannot hide one's true character or stupidity.