పిల్లికి చెలగాటము, ఎలుకకు ప్రాణ సంకటము.
pilliki chelagatamu, elukaku prana sankatamu.
For the cat, fanciful play and for the mouse, mortal fear.
This refers to a situation when a powerful person/power attacks a weak person/power for self-glorification. It may be merely a (power)game for the powerful, but it will be a question of life and death for the weak.
Related Phrases
పిల్లికి చెలగాటం, ఎలుకకు ప్రాణ సంకటం
pilliki chelagatam, elukaku prana sankatam
A game for the cat, a danger to life for the mouse
What is a trivial amusement or a sport for one person might be a matter of life and death or a serious struggle for another. It is used to describe situations where someone's casual actions cause severe distress or harm to someone else.
నాయనకు పెండ్లి సంబరము, అమ్మకు సవతి సంకటము
nayanaku pendli sambaramu, ammaku savati sankatamu
The father celebrates the marriage, while the mother suffers the hardship of a co-wife.
This proverb describes a situation where one person's joy or celebration causes direct misery or hardship to another. It is used to highlight conflicting interests or cases where an action is selfishly celebrated without considering the pain it inflicts on those closest.
నిప్పుతో చెలగాటం
nipputo chelagatam
Playing with fire
This expression is used to warn someone that they are engaging in a very dangerous or risky activity that could lead to severe consequences or self-destruction. It is typically used when someone is underestimating a serious threat.
లంజకు పిల్ల తగలాటము
lanjaku pilla tagalatamu
A child is a hindrance to a harlot.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who lives a carefree or irresponsible life finds themselves burdened by a responsibility or consequence that hinders their usual activities. It implies that an unwanted responsibility is causing a nuisance to someone's lifestyle.
స్వతంత్రము స్వర్గలోకము, పరతంత్రము ప్రాణసంకటము.
svatantramu svargalokamu, paratantramu pranasankatamu.
Independence is heaven, dependence is harassing to the life.
This proverb emphasizes the value of freedom and self-reliance. It states that being independent is a heavenly experience, whereas being dependent on others or living under subjection is as painful and suffocating as a life-threatening crisis. It is used to encourage autonomy and highlight the misery of servitude.
పిల్లికి చెలగాటం ఎలుకకు ప్రాణసంకటం
pilliki chelagatam elukaku pranasankatam
Sport to the cat, death to the rat. What is sport to the cat is death to the mouse. (German.)† What is play to the strong is death to the weak. (Danish.)
This proverb describes a situation where one person's amusement or casual action causes extreme suffering or danger to another. It is used to highlight the power imbalance and lack of empathy in certain interactions, reminding people that what is 'just fun' for one might be a matter of survival or deep distress for another.
అనుమానం ప్రాణ సంకటం.
anumanam prana sankatam.
Doubt is a life-threatening crisis.
This proverb highlights that suspicion or doubt can be as agonizing and dangerous as a fatal illness. It is used to describe situations where a person's constant distrust or lack of faith in someone or something leads to extreme mental agony, ruins relationships, or creates unnecessary complications that feel like a matter of life and death.
పిల్లికి ఎలుక సాక్ష్యం
pilliki eluka sakshyam
A rat testifying for a cat.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a culprit or an untrustworthy person produces a witness who is equally biased, unreliable, or under their control. It signifies a deceptive alliance where the witness is unlikely to speak the truth against the perpetrator.
మాటకు ప్రాణము సత్యము, కోటకు ప్రాణము మానము, చీటికి ప్రాణము వ్రాలు
mataku pranamu satyamu, kotaku pranamu manamu, chitiki pranamu vralu
Truth is the life of a word, honor is the life of a woman, and a signature is the life of a document.
This proverb emphasizes the essential quality that gives value or 'life' to certain things. It teaches that a word is only meaningful if it is true, a person's character is defined by their dignity and honor, and a document or letter only gains legal or formal validity through a signature.
ఎలుకకు పిల్లి సాక్షి
elukaku pilli sakshi
The cat a witness in the rat's case. Interested evidence. A fox should not be of the jury at a goose trial.
This expression is used to describe a situation where two parties who are naturally biased or complicit with each other stand as witnesses for one another. It implies that the testimony is untrustworthy because both parties have a mutual interest or are equally corrupt, much like how a cat and mouse 'working together' would be an absurdity or a conspiracy.