పాముకు బదనిక చూపినట్టు.
pamuku badanika chupinattu.
Like showing Badanika to a snake.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is deeply terrified or rendered powerless by a specific person or object. In Telugu folklore, it is believed that showing a 'Badanika' (a parasitic plant like Mistletoe) to a snake makes it immobile or frightened. It describes an effective deterrent or a person's ultimate weakness.
Badanika is the Loranthus Longiflorus ; the term is also applied gene- rally to all plants of the order. ( W. Elliot. ) It is said to be used as an antidote for snake bites.
Related Phrases
అత్తమీద కోపం దుత్తమీద చూపినట్లు
attamida kopam duttamida chupinatlu
Showing anger towards the mother-in-law on the earthen pot.
This proverb describes a situation where someone takes out their frustration or anger on an innocent person or an inanimate object because they cannot confront the actual person who caused the anger. It is used to highlight displaced aggression or venting on a weaker or easier target.
పాముకు పాలుపోసి పెంచినట్టు
pamuku paluposi penchinattu
Like feeding milk and raising a snake.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone helps or nurtures a person who is inherently dangerous or ungrateful, and who will eventually turn around and harm their benefactor. It serves as a warning against trusting or aiding individuals with a malicious nature.
ఏనుగుకు సిళ్ళు చూపినట్లు
enuguku sillu chupinatlu
Like showing teats to an elephant.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone offers something insignificantly small or inadequate to someone with vast needs or great capacity. Just as an elephant requires a massive amount of food to be satisfied, showing it small teats (symbolizing a tiny portion) is useless and mocking.
పాముకు బదనిక చూపినట్లు
pamuku badanika chupinatlu
Like showing a parasitic plant (Badanika) to a snake.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is instantly terrified or completely subdued by a specific threat or person. In Telugu folklore, it is believed that snakes are extremely fearful of the 'Badanika' (a type of parasitic plant) and become paralyzed or helpless when shown it. It signifies a weakness or a 'kryptonite' that brings an immediate stop to someone's aggressive behavior.
పాముకు పాలు పోసినట్లు
pamuku palu posinatlu
Feeding a snake with milk.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone helps or shows kindness to a wicked or ungrateful person, who in turn ends up harming the benefactor. It highlights the futility and danger of nurturing someone with an inherently malicious nature.
Showing kindness to an ungrateful person.
అంధునకు అద్దము చూపినట్టు
andhunaku addamu chupinattu
Like giving a blind man a looking glass. A blind man will not thank you for a looking glass.
This proverb describes an exercise in futility or a wasted effort. It refers to providing something valuable or useful to a person who lacks the capacity or knowledge to appreciate or utilize it.
దున్నే వాడికి లేళ్లని చూపించినట్టు
dunne vadiki lellani chupinchinattu
Like pointing out antelope to ploughers. Diverting the attention of people from their work.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is distracted from their hard work or duty by something enticing but irrelevant. It highlights how easily a person can be diverted from a laborious task (plowing) by a fleeting or useless attraction (chasing deer).
ఏడిచే బిడ్డకు అరటిపండు చూపినట్టు
ediche biddaku aratipandu chupinattu
Like shewing a plantain to a crying child.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is temporarily distracted or pacified with a minor gesture or a small bribe to stop them from complaining or demanding something more significant. It refers to a superficial or momentary solution to a problem rather than addressing the root cause.
అత్త మీద కోపం దుత్త మీద చూపించినట్టు
atta mida kopam dutta mida chupinchinattu
Like showing anger toward the mother-in-law on the earthen pot.
This expression describes a situation where someone takes out their frustration or anger on an innocent third party or an inanimate object because they cannot confront the person who actually caused the provocation. It is similar to the concept of 'displaced aggression'.
సాతాని నుదుట విభూతి రాయడం, సురభి బదనిక పాముకు చూపినట్లు
satani nuduta vibhuti rayadam, surabhi badanika pamuku chupinatlu
Applying sacred ash on a Satani's forehead is like showing a snake the root of a Surabhi plant.
This expression refers to doing something that is fundamentally contradictory or offensive to a person's nature or beliefs. A 'Satani' is a devotee of Vishnu who traditionally applies vertical 'Namam' and avoids 'Vibhuti' (sacred ash associated with Shiva). Similarly, according to folklore, a snake is repelled or harmed by the Surabhi plant. It is used to describe actions that are bound to provoke a strong negative reaction or are completely inappropriate for the recipient.