పాముకు పాలు పోసినట్లు

pamuku palu posinatlu

Translation

Feeding a snake with milk.

Meaning

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.

Notes

Showing kindness to an ungrateful person.

Related Phrases

Although you feed a snake with milk, it will not refrain from biting you.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where an inherently evil or ungrateful person will eventually cause harm, regardless of how much kindness, care, or help you provide them. It suggests that one's true nature cannot be changed by external kindness.

To dig out the roots and pour in hot water. To ruin a man utterly.

This expression is used to describe an action that is intended to destroy something completely from its foundation or to harm someone under the guise of helping. Just as pouring hot water on a dug-up root ensures the plant will never grow back, this refers to absolute destruction or irreversible damage.

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.

When milk was poured out of pity, he spilled it saying he didn't want it.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone shows ungratefulness or arrogance toward an act of kindness. It refers to a person who rejects or wastes a gesture of help or charity that was offered to them in their time of need.

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.

When milk was given out of pity, he poured it out saying it was too thin.

This proverb describes someone who is ungrateful or overly critical of an act of kindness. It is used when a person receives help or a gift but instead of being thankful, they find minor faults in it and reject or complain about it.

Like ghee poured on fire. To cast oil in the fire is not the way to quench it.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone's actions or words worsen an already volatile or angry situation. Just as pouring clarified butter (ghee) into a fire makes the flames roar higher, this refers to 'adding fuel to the fire' or instigating someone who is already furious.

Like making porridge of dust. Labour wasted in a hopeless scheme.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone puts in a lot of effort or goes through a process, but the final result is completely ruined or made useless by a foolish mistake or poor quality ingredients. It signifies wasted effort resulting in something unpalatable or unsuccessful.

Like cutting the udder, and drinking the milk. Ruining one's self by ambition.

This expression describes a person who, in their greed for immediate gain, destroys the very source of their wealth or livelihood. It is used to criticize short-sighted actions that provide a small instant benefit but cause permanent loss.

Like pouring spindles into a corn measure. A noiseless operation.

This expression is used to describe an extremely noisy, chaotic, or restless situation. Just as putting metal spindles into a measuring vessel causes them to rattle and create constant noise/movement, it refers to people or things that cannot stay still or quiet.