మొదలే కోతి, పైగా కల్లు తాగినట్లు

modale koti, paiga kallu taginatlu

Translation

A monkey by birth, and then it drank palm wine.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a person who is already mischievous or foolish by nature, but then encounters a situation or consumes something that makes their behavior even more erratic or uncontrollable. It signifies a bad situation becoming significantly worse due to unnecessary additions.

Related Phrases

Like making a monkey drink toddy (palm wine)

This expression is used to describe a situation where a naturally mischievous or restless person becomes even more uncontrollable, chaotic, or hyperactive due to external factors. It is used when someone's existing negative traits are amplified by bad influence or circumstances.

One must build a fort proportional to their fear.

This proverb suggests that one's defenses or preparations should be adequate to the level of risk or threat they perceive. It is used to advise someone to take precautions that match the magnitude of the potential danger or their own anxiety about a situation.

Like cutting the udder to drink milk

This expression refers to a short-sighted or greedy action where someone destroys a valuable source of long-term benefits for a small, immediate gain. It is similar to the English proverb 'killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.' It is used when someone's impatience or lack of foresight leads to self-inflicted loss.

Like a monkey that drank palm wine

This expression is used to describe someone who is behaving in an extremely hyperactive, erratic, or uncontrollable manner. It implies a state of chaotic agitation where a person is already naturally restless (like a monkey) and has been further stimulated by an intoxicant, making them impossible to manage.

Already a monkey, additionally it drank toddy, and on top of that, a scorpion stung it.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who is already naturally mischievous or unstable encounters further provocations that make their behavior uncontrollably worse. It describes a sequence of events that turn a bad situation into a total disaster.

The wind that is suitable for the tree.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone gets exactly what they deserve, or when a consequence is perfectly matched to an action or a person's character. It is similar to the English proverb 'As you sow, so shall you reap' or 'To each according to their capacity.'

Thorns suited for the drumstick, and roughness suited for the bitter gourd.

This proverb implies that every individual or situation has its own unique set of flaws or characteristics that are inherent to their nature. It is often used to suggest that a person has found a match or a consequence that perfectly fits their specific temperament or behavior, similar to the English expression 'to each their own' or 'fitting for one's nature.'

Like the vine you were searching for entangling your own foot.

This expression is used when you are searching for someone or something, and unexpectedly, that person or thing appears before you or crosses your path without any effort. It signifies a stroke of luck where a solution presents itself just when you were about to start looking for it.

Like building a house with great effort and then setting it on fire after getting drunk.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone works extremely hard to achieve something significant, only to ruin or destroy it through a single moment of foolishness, negligence, or an impulsive mistake. It highlights the tragedy of wasting long-term effort for a temporary lapse in judgment.

Like cutting the udder, and drinking the milk. Ruining one's self by ambition.

This expression describes a person who, in their greed for immediate gain, destroys the very source of their wealth or livelihood. It is used to criticize short-sighted actions that provide a small instant benefit but cause permanent loss.