నిప్పులో ఉప్పు వేసినట్లు

nippulo uppu vesinatlu

Translation

Like throwing salt into the fire

Meaning

This expression is used to describe someone who gets extremely irritated, flares up in anger, or reacts with instant agitation. Just as salt crackles and pops loudly when thrown into a fire, it refers to a person's explosive or sharp temper in response to a situation.

Related Phrases

When asked to inform before putting salt in the dal, she said she quickly put it in and handed it over to her mother-in-law.

This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks common sense or misunderstands a simple instruction. Instead of 'telling' (cheppadam) before doing the action as requested, the person 'puts' (veyyadam) it quickly due to the phonetic similarity of the words in Telugu or sheer negligence, leading to an undesired result. It highlights the behavior of doing things in a hurry without thinking.

Like the mongoose who did a good deed but met with danger.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone's good intentions or helpful actions result in a misunderstanding or negative consequences for them. It originates from the Panchatantra story where a pet mongoose saves a baby from a snake, but is killed by the mother who mistakenly thinks the mongoose harmed the child.

Like hoisting a flag (or placing a turban) in a fort.

This expression is used to describe achieving a significant victory, establishing control over a difficult territory, or successfully securing a position in a place that seemed hard to reach. It signifies a major milestone or a successful 'conquest' in a professional or personal context.

Like placing a turban in the fort

This expression is used to describe a significant achievement, a grand success, or the act of establishing one's authority or presence in a difficult-to-reach place. Historically, placing one's turban in an enemy's fort symbolized victory and conquest. In modern context, it refers to reaching a milestone or securing a strong position in a competitive field.

Like a man who dislikes his wife complaining that there is no salt in the greens.

This proverb describes a situation where someone who is already biased against a person or a task will find petty, non-existent, or irrelevant excuses to criticize them. It is used when someone's dissatisfaction stems from personal prejudice rather than a genuine fault in the work or the situation.

Like pouring ghee into the fire

This expression is used to describe an action that worsens an already volatile or tense situation. Just as ghee makes a fire blaze more intensely, this phrase refers to 'adding fuel to the fire'—making someone angrier or making a conflict more severe.

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.

A knot soaked in water, turmeric applied to a brand.

This expression is used to describe something that is fixed, permanent, or impossible to undo. Just as a wet knot becomes tighter and harder to untie, and turmeric applied to a cauterized wound stays fixed to the skin, this phrase refers to a decision or situation that is finalized and unchangeable.

Like poking a tiger with a stick

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone unnecessarily provokes or irritates a powerful, dangerous, or short-tempered person, thereby inviting trouble or a violent reaction. It highlights the foolishness of instigating someone who is already capable of causing significant harm.

Like salt in the fire

This expression is used to describe someone who is extremely agitated, irritable, or prone to sudden outbursts of anger. Just as salt crackles and pops violently when thrown into a fire, it characterizes a person's volatile temperament or a situation that is highly unstable and reactive.