నక్క గూసి పిల్లలకు దోవ తెచ్చును.
nakka gusi pillalaku dova techchunu.
The jackal howls and brings evil upon its whelps.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone's own actions or unnecessary talk inadvertently brings trouble or danger upon themselves or their family. It highlights how a lack of discretion can lead to self-inflicted harm.
Related Phrases
కుక్క తెచ్చేవి అన్నీ గొద్దెలు.
kukka techchevi anni goddelu.
All that a dog brings is filth.
This proverb is used to describe someone who consistently brings back useless things or unreliable information. It implies that you cannot expect anything of value or quality from a person who lacks the capacity or merit to provide it, much like how a dog will only scavenge for bones.
'Tis the nature of the beast.
తెల్లవారి లేచినందుకు దోవ తప్పినందుకూ సరి.
tellavari lechinanduku dova tappinanduku sari.
Waking up early and losing the way offset each other.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the effort put into a task is rendered useless by a subsequent mistake or hurdle. It highlights that the benefit gained from starting early or working hard was nullified because the person ended up going in the wrong direction or making a fundamental error, resulting in no net progress.
కాసుకు దోవలేదు, నూటికి పరవా లేదు.
kasuku dovaledu, nutiki parava ledu.
He has not the means of [getting] one cash, but thinks nothing of [spending] a hundred [pagodas]. A pagoda = 3½ Rupees. Wanton extravagance. He is able to buy an abbey.
This proverb describes a person who lacks the means to earn even a small amount of money (a 'kasu'), yet talks or acts with grand indifference toward large sums (a 'hundred'). It is used to mock someone who is boastful or financially reckless despite being in deep poverty.
పసిపిల్లలకూ పాలకుండకూ దృష్టి తగలకుండా చూడాలి.
pasipillalaku palakundaku drishti tagalakunda chudali.
One must ensure that neither infants nor milk pots are affected by the evil eye.
This is a traditional Telugu proverb emphasizing that precious, vulnerable, or essential things (like babies or food sources) need constant protection from jealousy or negative energy. It is used to advise caution and safeguarding of one's most valued assets.
మక్కాకు పోయి కుక్క మలము తెచ్చినట్టు
makkaku poyi kukka malamu techchinattu
Going to Mekka and bringing back dog's dirt.
This expression is used to describe a person who goes on a great or sacred journey (or takes on a significant opportunity) but returns with something worthless or engages in something trivial and disgraceful. It highlights the irony of wasting a valuable opportunity or a holy pilgrimage by focusing on or bringing back something foul.
కుక్క తెచ్చేవన్నీ బొమికలే
kukka techchevanni bomikale
Everything a dog brings is just bones.
This proverb is used to describe a person whose contributions or outcomes are always of low quality or useless. Just as a dog naturally seeks out and brings back worthless bones instead of anything valuable, some people, due to their nature or habits, consistently produce results that lack value or significance.
గోకి దురద తెచ్చుకొన్నట్లు
goki durada techchukonnatlu
Like scratching and inviting an itch.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone unnecessarily interferes in something or creates a problem for themselves where there wasn't one before. It is similar to the English idiom 'To look for trouble' or 'To stir a hornet's nest'.
కాశీకి పోయి కుక్క బొచ్చు తెచ్చినట్టు.
kashiki poyi kukka bochchu techchinattu.
Like going to Benares, and bringing back dog's hair.
This proverb is used to describe someone who goes on a long, arduous journey or undertakes a significant task, only to return with something trivial, worthless, or useless. It highlights the irony of putting in great effort for a meaningless result.
Great labour and small results.
చిచ్చును ఒడిగట్టి తెచ్చినట్లు
chichchunu odigatti techchinatlu
Like carrying fire tied in the fold of one's garment
This expression is used to describe a person or a situation that brings trouble, danger, or destruction along with them. Just as carrying live embers in a cloth is dangerous and will eventually burn the person carrying it, inviting a troublemaker or initiating a risky plan will lead to self-destruction.
తన కాళ్లకు బందాలు తానే తెచ్చుకొన్నట్టు.
tana kallaku bandalu tane techchukonnattu.
He brought fetters for his own legs. He brings a staff to brak his ain head. (Scotch.)
This expression describes a situation where a person, through their own actions or decisions, creates obstacles or restrictions for themselves. It is used when someone's self-inflicted complications lead to their own downfall or lack of freedom.