ఒకటి చేయబోతే మరొకటి అయినట్లు
okati cheyabote marokati ayinatlu
Doing one thing and it becoming another
This expression is used to describe a situation where one's actions lead to an unexpected or unintended outcome, often despite good intentions. It is similar to the English phrase 'Backfiring' or 'Best-laid plans gone awry.' It describes a result that is completely different from what was originally planned.
Related Phrases
విత్తు ఒకటి వేస్తే, చెట్టు ఇంకొకటి మొలచునా?
vittu okati veste, chettu inkokati molachuna?
If you sow one type of seed, will a different tree grow?
This expression is equivalent to 'as you sow, so shall you reap'. It highlights that actions have inevitable consequences and the results will always be consistent with the nature of the initial action. It is used to point out that one cannot expect good outcomes from bad deeds or vice-versa.
బయటకొకటి లోపలికొకటి
bayatakokati lopalikokati
One on the outside and another on the inside
This expression is used to describe a person who is hypocritical or two-faced. It refers to someone whose outward words or behavior do not match their true internal intentions or feelings.
మునిని చేయబోతే పిల్లి అయినట్టు
munini cheyabote pilli ayinattu
Like trying to make a sage but ending up with a cat instead.
This proverb describes a situation where one attempts to create or achieve something noble, grand, or highly skillful, but due to lack of skill or an unfortunate turn of events, the end result turns out to be something trivial, inferior, or completely different. It is used to mock failed ambitious attempts.
అయ్యవారిని చేయబోతే కోతి అయినట్లు
ayyavarini cheyabote koti ayinatlu
Trying to make an idol of a teacher (or god), but it turned into a monkey.
This expression is used when a well-intentioned task or project goes completely wrong due to incompetence or unexpected errors, resulting in something unintended and often ridiculous. It describes a situation where an attempt to create something noble or superior ends up as a mess.
పేడ, బెల్లం ఒకటి చేసినట్లు
peda, bellam okati chesinatlu
Like mixing cow dung and jaggery together
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone treats opposites or things of vastly different quality as the same. It often refers to a lack of discrimination, poor judgment, or ruining something good (jaggery) by mixing it with something bad (dung). It can also describe bringing together two incompatible people or ideas.
తాను ఒకటి తలిస్తే దైవం ఒకటి తలచినట్లు
tanu okati taliste daivam okati talachinatlu
If one thinks of one thing, God thinks of another.
This proverb is the Telugu equivalent of 'Man proposes, God disposes.' It is used to describe situations where human plans or expectations fail to materialize because fate or a higher power had a different outcome in store.
అయ్యవారిని చెయ్యబోతే కోతి అయినట్లు
ayyavarini cheyyabote koti ayinatlu
His attempt to make [an image of] Ganêśa ended in [the moulding of] a monkey. Mud images of Ganêśa are made and worshipped on the 4th day of the light fortnight in the month Bhâdrapada (August—September). A ridiculous failure.
This proverb describes a situation where one's well-intentioned efforts or ambitious plans go wrong, resulting in a ridiculous or unintended outcome. It is used when someone tries to improve something or create something great but ends up making it worse or spoiling it completely due to lack of skill or poor execution.
ఒకటి తరక, ఇంకొకటి తాలు.
okati taraka, inkokati talu.
One is a broken piece, and the other is a hollow husk.
This expression is used to describe two people or things that are equally useless, defective, or of poor quality. It highlights that there is no choice between them because neither has any value, often used when comparing two options that are both unsatisfactory.
మునిని చేయబోతే పిల్లి అయినట్లు
munini cheyabote pilli ayinatlu
When trying to make a sage, it turned into a cat
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone attempts to do something great or noble, but due to lack of skill or bad luck, the end result is mediocre or a failure. It is similar to the English expression 'The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.' Note: The user provided 'Malli' (Jasmine) or 'Munni', but the standard proverb is 'Muni' (Sage/Ascetic).
శతమానం భవతి అంటే ఒకటి చాల్లే అన్నదిట
shatamanam bhavati ante okati challe annadita
When told 'May you live for a hundred years', she replied 'One is enough'.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is extremely cynical, pessimistic, or lacks the will to live/enjoy life. It highlights a situation where someone rejects a great blessing or a positive wish with a sarcastic or hopeless remark, essentially 'killing the vibe' or showing extreme dissatisfaction.