నిప్పు నడుమ బెట్టిన పూరి కాలకుండునా
nippu naduma bettina puri kalakunduna
Will the grass placed in the middle of a fire not burn?
This proverb is used to illustrate that certain consequences are inevitable. Just as dry grass will surely catch fire if placed in a flame, a person cannot avoid trouble or corruption if they are constantly in a dangerous or unethical environment. It is often used as a warning about the influence of bad company or risky situations.
Related Phrases
పొమ్మనలేక పొగ బెట్టినట్లు
pommanaleka poga bettinatlu
Like lighting smoke because one cannot directly ask someone to leave
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone wants to get rid of a person or end a situation but doesn't want to say it directly. Instead, they create uncomfortable conditions or make things difficult to force the person to leave on their own accord. It is synonymous with 'indirectly forcing someone out'.
కుక్క గోవు కాదు, కుందేలు పులి కాదు.
kukka govu kadu, kundelu puli kadu.
A dog is not a cow, and a rabbit is not a tiger.
This expression is used to emphasize that things or people have their own inherent nature and limitations. One cannot change their fundamental character or identity to become something superior or entirely different just by imitation or wishful thinking.
పుండుమీద కొరవి పెట్టినట్లు
pundumida koravi pettinatlu
Like placing a burning brand on a sore.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone adds insult to injury or makes an already painful situation much worse. It is similar to the English idiom 'to rub salt in the wound'.
నీళ్ళలో నిప్పు పెట్టి, కాలలేదని కడుపు కొట్టుకున్నట్టు
nillalo nippu petti, kalaledani kadupu kottukunnattu
Setting fire to water and then beating one's stomach (in grief) because it didn't burn.
This expression describes a person who attempts a completely impossible or illogical task and then laments or complains when it inevitably fails. It is used to mock someone's foolishness, unrealistic expectations, or their habit of blaming fate for failures caused by their own lack of common sense.
ఉత్తకుండ ఉట్టికెత్తి నేతికుండ నేలను బెట్టినట్లు.
uttakunda uttiketti netikunda nelanu bettinatlu.
Like lifting an empty pot onto the sling and placing the ghee pot on the floor.
This proverb describes a person who lacks judgment and priorities. It refers to someone who values useless things while neglecting or mismanaging valuable assets. It is used to point out foolish decisions where one gives importance to the trivial and ignores the essential.
నెత్తిన వెన్న పెట్టి రొయ్యల మొలతాడు కట్టినట్లు
nettina venna petti royyala molatadu kattinatlu
Like placing butter on the head and tying a waistband made of prawns.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is being extremely foolish or setting themselves up for a loss. Placing butter on the head (which melts in the sun) and using prawns (which are scavenged by crows and dogs) as a waistband implies that the person's assets or efforts will quickly vanish or be snatched away due to poor planning.
నిప్పు ముట్టనిదే చెయ్యి కాలదు
nippu muttanide cheyyi kaladu
The hand does not burn without touching fire
This expression is used to imply that every effect has a cause, or that someone wouldn't be in trouble or facing consequences unless they had done something to provoke it. It is similar to the English proverb 'Where there's smoke, there's fire.'
పోయిన నీళ్ళకు కట్ట కట్టినట్లు
poyina nillaku katta kattinatlu
Like building a dam after the water has already flowed away
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone takes corrective action or precautions after the damage has already been done and it is too late to be effective. It is similar to the English proverb 'locking the stable door after the horse has bolted'.
పులి ఆకలైతే గడ్డి తింటుందా?
puli akalaite gaddi tintunda?
Will a tiger eat grass even if it is hungry?
This proverb is used to describe people of high integrity, status, or specific nature who will never compromise their core principles or dignity, even when facing extreme hardship or desperate situations. Just as a tiger would rather starve than eat grass (which is against its nature), a person of character will not resort to base or unethical actions just to survive.
రెండు పడవల మీద కాళ్లు పెట్టినట్లు
rendu padavala mida kallu pettinatlu
Like placing legs on two boats
This expression refers to a situation where a person is trying to pursue two different or conflicting paths at the same time. It signifies instability and the risk of failure in both endeavors, much like how one would fall into the water if the two boats they are standing on drift apart. It is used to advise someone to be decisive and commit to a single course of action.