నిప్పు తొక్కిన కోతి వలె
nippu tokkina koti vale
Like a monkey that stepped on hot embers
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely restless, agitated, or reacting with sudden, frantic movement. It depicts a state of high distress or panicked jumping around, similar to how a monkey would behave if it accidentally stepped on fire.
Related Phrases
భంగు తిన్న కోతివలె
bhangu tinna kotivale
Like a monkey that has consumed bhang (cannabis)
This expression is used to describe a person who is acting in an erratic, restless, or uncontrollably hyperactive manner. Just as a monkey is naturally restless, adding an intoxicant like bhang would make its behavior completely unpredictable and wild; hence, it refers to someone behaving in a chaotic or senseless fashion.
గుడ్డివాడు అలుకు తొక్కినట్లు
guddivadu aluku tokkinatlu
Like a blind man stepping on wet dung floor-wash.
This expression describes a situation where someone performs a task haphazardly, clumsily, or without any sense of direction or awareness. It is used when someone's actions are messy and lack the precision or skill required for the job.
వెర్రివాడు ఏతం తొక్కినట్లు
verrivadu etam tokkinatlu
Like a fool operating a water lever
This expression is used to describe a person who continues to do a task mechanically or pointlessly without knowing when to stop or understanding the purpose of the work. Just as a foolish person might keep treading a water lever (etam) even after the fields are flooded or the vessel is empty, it refers to mindless repetition or inefficient effort.
మేకును పెరికిన కోతి వలె
mekunu perikina koti vale
Like the monkey that drew out the wedge. “ ‘ You know the story of the Monkey, don’t you ? ’ [ said Karataka ]. “The Monkey drew the sawyer’s wedge, and died; Let meddlers mark it, and be edited.” ‘ No ! ’ said Damanaka. ‘ How was it ? ‘ In this way,’ answered Karataka :— ‘ In south Behar, close by the retreat of Dhurmma, there was an open plot of ground, upon which a temple was in course of erection, under the management of a man of the Kayeth caste named Subhadatta. A car- penter upon the works had partly sawed through a long beam of wood, and wedged it open, and was gone away, leaving the wedge fixed. Shortly afterwards a large herd of Monkeys came frolicking that way, and one of their number, directed doubtless by the Angel of death, got astride the beam, and grasped the wedge, with his tail and lower parts dangling down between the pieces of the wood. Not content with this, in the mischief natural to monkeys, he began to tug at the wedge; till at last it yielded to a great effort and came out; when the wood closed upon him, and jammed him all fast. So perished the monkey, miserably crushed ; and I say again,— “ Let meddlers mark it and be edited.” ( Arnold's Book of Good Counsels from the Hitopadesa pp. 49, 50.)
This expression describes a situation where someone meddles in affairs they do not understand, resulting in trouble or self-inflicted harm. It originates from a fable where a monkey pulls out a wooden wedge from a split log, only to have its limbs caught when the log snaps shut. It is used to caution against unnecessary interference or curiosity in dangerous matters.
ఉప్పుకు నిప్పు వలె
uppuku nippu vale
Like fire to salt
This expression is used to describe a relationship between two people or things that are highly incompatible or prone to sudden, violent conflict. Just as salt crackles and explodes when thrown into fire, this phrase characterizes a volatile, antagonistic, or 'cat and dog' relationship.
తోక తొక్కిన తాచులాగా
toka tokkina tachulaga
Like a cobra whose tail has been stepped on
This expression is used to describe someone who becomes extremely furious, aggressive, or reacts with intense anger when provoked. Just as a cobra strikes back instantly and fiercely when its tail is trodden upon, this phrase characterizes a person's sudden and violent retaliation to an insult or injury.
శివమెత్తిన గంగిరెద్దులా చిందులు తొక్కడం
shivamettina gangireddula chindulu tokkadam
To dance around like a decorated bull possessed by a deity.
This expression is used to describe someone who is acting in an uncontrollably aggressive, chaotic, or agitated manner. It likens a person's wild behavior or angry outburst to the frenzied movements of a 'Gangireddu' (sacred decorated bull) when it is perceived to be possessed or extremely restless.
తొక్కలేనమ్మ తొక్కులో నీళ్లు పోసిందట
tokkalenamma tokkulo nillu posindata
The woman who couldn't peel (the mangoes) poured water into the pickle.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks basic skills or competence, but attempts to 'help' or perform a task only to ruin it completely. It highlights how an incompetent person's intervention often makes a situation worse.
బంగీ తిన్న కోతివలె తిరుగుతాడు
bangi tinna kotivale tirugutadu
He runs about like a Bhanged monkey.
This expression is used to describe someone who is acting erratically, behaving in a confused or dizzy manner, or wandering around aimlessly without any sense of direction or purpose. It is often applied to people who are hyperactive or behaving strangely as if they are under an intoxication or high.
తొక్కలేనమ్మ తొక్కులో నీళ్లు పోసిందట
tokkalenamma tokkulo nillu posindata
The woman who couldn't pound, put water into the condi- ments. She was too lazy to pound the condiments and therefore purposely spoilt them.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks the skill or knowledge to perform a task but still attempts it, only to end up ruining it completely. It highlights incompetence or a lack of basic common sense in a specific situation.