మొయిలును నమ్మి చెరువు తెగకొట్టినట్టు
moyilunu nammi cheruvu tegakottinattu
Trusting to the cloud, he cut open the tank. Prematurely giving up what you have, in the hopes of getting more.
This proverb describes the foolishness of discarding a reliable, existing resource in anticipation of a potential future gain that hasn't materialized yet. It refers to a person who, seeing rain clouds, breaks the local reservoir (lake) bank to make room for new water, only to end up with no water if the clouds pass without raining. It is used to warn against being over-optimistic or abandoning certainties for uncertainties.
Related Phrases
బుడ్డను నమ్మి ఏటిలో దిగినట్లు
buddanu nammi etilo diginatlu
Like trusting a water bubble and stepping into a river
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone takes a huge risk based on unreliable, fragile, or temporary support. Just as a water bubble bursts instantly and cannot support a person's weight in a river, relying on weak promises or unstable resources will lead to failure or danger.
చెరువు మీద అలిగి కాళ్లు కడుక్కోక పోయినట్టు
cheruvu mida aligi kallu kadukkoka poyinattu
Getting into a pet with the tank, he would not wash his feet in it.
This proverb describes a situation where someone's spiteful or stubborn actions only end up hurting themselves rather than the person or thing they are angry with. It is used when a person boycotts something essential out of spite, resulting in their own disadvantage.
When a man grows angry, his reason rides out.
ఎరువును అమ్మి బొంతను పొయ్యిలో పెట్టుకొన్నట్లు
eruvunu ammi bontanu poyyilo pettukonnatlu
Selling the fertilizer and putting the quilt in the hearth.
This expression is used to describe a foolish or self-destructive person who sells their source of livelihood (fertilizer for farming) and then destroys their only means of comfort or warmth (the quilt) for fuel. It refers to someone who makes decisions that lead to their own total ruin by wasting both their assets and their necessities.
బొజ్జను నమ్మి ఏట పడ్డట్టు
bojjanu nammi eta paddattu
Trusting to his corpulency and throwing himself into the river.
This expression refers to a person who relies on their own physical bulk or misguided confidence to solve a problem, only to face disaster. It is used to describe someone who acts foolishly without a proper plan or valid tools, believing their size or ego alone will save them from a dangerous situation.
మొయిలు నీరు నమ్మి చెరువు కట్ట తెగగొట్టుకున్నట్లు
moyilu niru nammi cheruvu katta tegagottukunnatlu
Like breaking the lake's embankment by trusting the rainwater from clouds.
This proverb describes a foolish act of destroying a reliable, existing resource in anticipation of a potential future gain that is uncertain. It is used when someone gives up a certain benefit (like stored lake water) based on the mere hope or promise of something better (like rain clouds) which hasn't arrived yet.
మట్టి గుర్రాన్ని నమ్మి ఏట్లో దిగినట్లు
matti gurranni nammi etlo diginatlu
Going into a river upon a mud horse.
This proverb describes a situation where someone relies on something unreliable or deceptive, leading to inevitable failure or disaster. Just as a horse made of mud will dissolve and collapse when it enters water, trusting a weak or false promise will leave a person helpless in a crisis. It is used to warn against placing trust in superficial strengths or incompetent people.
Relying upon a man who pretends to have influence.
ఇలను నమ్మి చెడినవాడు కలికానికి కానరాడు
ilanu nammi chedinavadu kalikaniki kanaradu
One who trusts the land and fails cannot be found even for a sample.
This proverb emphasizes the reliability of agriculture and land. It suggests that while people might fail in other businesses, someone who works the land with dedication will never be ruined or go destitute. It is used to highlight that land is a permanent asset that always provides a livelihood.
నన్ను నమ్ము నారాయణ అంటే నక్కను నమ్ముతా అన్నాడట
nannu nammu narayana ante nakkanu nammuta annadata
When said 'Trust me, Narayana', he replied 'I would rather trust a fox'
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone has so little faith in a particular person that they would rather trust a notoriously cunning or deceitful entity (like a fox) instead. It highlights extreme distrust or the irony of someone untrustworthy asking for faith.
ఉట్టికి ఎగరలేనమ్మ స్వర్గానికి ఎగురుతుందా?
uttiki egaralenamma svarganiki egurutunda?
If a woman cannot reach the hanging net, can she jump to heaven?
This proverb is used to mock someone who fails at a simple, basic task but makes grand claims about achieving something much more difficult or impossible. It highlights the gap between one's actual abilities and their unrealistic ambitions.
చేతిలోని అన్నం చెరువులోకి విసిరి, చేయినాకి చెరువునీళ్లు తాగినట్లు.
chetiloni annam cheruvuloki visiri, cheyinaki cheruvunillu taginatlu.
Throwing the food from one's hand into the lake, then licking the hand and drinking the lake water.
This expression describes a person who foolishly discards a valuable resource or opportunity already in their possession, only to later struggle and settle for meager leftovers or inferior alternatives. It is used to mock short-sightedness and the lack of appreciation for what one already has.