మెత్తనివాడిని చూస్తే మొత్తబుద్ధి వేసినట్లు

mettanivadini chuste mottabuddhi vesinatlu

Translation

Upon seeing a soft-natured person, one feels like hitting them.

Meaning

This proverb describes the human tendency to exploit or take advantage of those who are mild-mannered, gentle, or submissive. It suggests that people often bully or dominate those who do not resist or stand up for themselves.

Related Phrases

Seeing blind, hearing deaf

This expression describes a person who intentionally ignores what they see or hear. It is used to characterize someone who stays indifferent or pretends to be unaware of the truth or events happening right in front of them for personal reasons or convenience.

Seeing a soft person makes one want to strike them

This expression refers to the human tendency to take advantage of or bully those who are gentle, submissive, or overly kind. It is used to describe situations where someone's politeness is mistaken for weakness, leading others to exploit them.

A man's mind is a blunt mind, a woman's mind is a subtle/sharp mind.

This proverb contrasts the psychological natures of men and women. It suggests that men tend to be more straightforward, rough, or simple-minded (motu), whereas women possess a more complex, strategic, or far-reaching intelligence (apara buddhi). It is often used to comment on how women can see through situations or plan more effectively than men.

Look at the mother before choosing the daughter, look at the milk yield before choosing the buffalo.

This proverb suggests that characteristics are often inherited or influenced by origins. Just as a buffalo's value is judged by its milk production, a daughter's character and qualities can often be understood by observing her mother. It is used as a piece of advice when considering marriage alliances or evaluating someone based on their upbringing and lineage.

Like placing a ladder to the sky

This expression is used to describe an impossible task or highly unrealistic and overambitious plans. It refers to a person having 'lofty' ideas or goals that are practically unattainable, similar to the English idiom 'reaching for the stars' but often with a connotation of futility or sarcasm.

Looking at one person makes you want to give, looking at another makes you want to hit.

This expression describes how human behavior and generosity are often reactive to a person's character or attitude. It implies that some people naturally evoke kindness and charity, while others, due to their behavior or nature, provoke irritation or anger.

If you are soft, people will feel like hitting you on the head.

This proverb is used to warn that if a person is too submissive, overly kind, or weak, others will naturally try to take advantage of them or mistreat them. It suggests that one must maintain a certain level of firmness to command respect.

Man's intellect is crude, woman's intellect is subtle/deeper.

This proverb highlights a traditional observation about gendered thinking styles. It suggests that men tend to have a blunt or straightforward approach (motu), whereas women possess a more refined, intricate, or farsighted perspective (avara). It is used to contrast the simplicity of a man's logic with the complexity and depth of a woman's intuition.

Seeing one person makes you want to give, seeing another makes you want to hit

This proverb describes how different people's behavior or character evokes different reactions. One person's kindness or need inspires generosity, while another person's arrogance or annoyance provokes irritation and the urge to scold or strike them.

When she looked at her husband with the eye which had beheld the king, she had a mind to thump him.

This proverb describes a situation where a person, after witnessing someone of great power, beauty, or wealth, starts to find their own humble circumstances or partner inferior. It is used to caution against comparing one's own blessings with extraordinary exceptions, which leads to unnecessary discontentment or disdain for what one already has.