పితికే బర్రెను ఇచ్చి పొడిచే దున్నను తెచ్చినట్టు.
pitike barrenu ichchi podiche dunnanu techchinattu.
He bartered a milch she buffalo for a goring he buffalo.
This proverb describes a foolish exchange or a bad bargain. It refers to a situation where someone gives away something useful and productive (the milking buffalo) only to replace it with something useless and harmful (the aggressive bull). It is used when a person makes a decision that results in a significant loss of utility and an increase in trouble.
Related Phrases
ఏనుగును ఇచ్చి అంకుశం దాచినట్లు
enugunu ichchi ankusham dachinatlu
Giving away an elephant but hiding its goad.
This proverb describes a situation where someone performs a major act of generosity or makes a massive investment but gets stingy or hesitant over a trivial, minor detail required to make it functional. It is used when someone completes a huge task but stops short of finishing the small final touch.
వినను కనను రెండేసి యిచ్చి, అనను ఒకటే యిచ్చినాడు దేవుడు
vinanu kananu rendesi yichchi, ananu okate yichchinadu devudu
God gave two each to hear and to see, but gave only one to speak.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of listening and observing more than speaking. Since we are physically equipped with two ears and two eyes but only one mouth, it implies that a wise person should be twice as observant and attentive as they are talkative. It is used to advise someone to be thoughtful and cautious with their words.
తిరిపపు మజ్జిగకు వచ్చి పాడిబర్రెను బేరము చేసినట్టు
tiripapu majjigaku vachchi padibarrenu beramu chesinattu
Like coming for a cup of buttermilk as charity and then trying to bargain for the milch buffalo.
This proverb is used to describe a person who asks for a small favor or a basic necessity and then oversteps their boundaries by trying to exert control or make demands on something much more valuable. It highlights audacity, greed, or the lack of propriety in a person who, while being a beggar or a seeker of help, starts acting like a patron or a boss.
తిరిపెపు మజ్జిగకు వచ్చి పాడి బర్రెను బేరము చేసినట్టు.
tiripepu majjigaku vachchi padi barrenu beramu chesinattu.
Like coming to beg buttermilk, and bargaining for the milch buffalo. Pretended wealth.
This proverb describes a person who approaches someone for a small favor or out of necessity, but then tries to exert control or make excessive demands beyond their status or the situation. It highlights the irony of someone who is in a position of asking for charity (the beggar) acting as if they are the one in a position of power (the buyer).
దొరలు ఇచ్చిన పాలుకన్నా ధరణి ఇచ్చిన పాలు మేలు.
doralu ichchina palukanna dharani ichchina palu melu.
The share given by the earth is better than that given by the government. Free lands are better when fertile, than shares of grain allotted by government.
This proverb emphasizes self-reliance and the bounty of nature over patronage from the powerful. It suggests that what one earns through honest labor on their own land is superior and more sustainable than gifts or favors received from those in power, which often come with conditions or strings attached.
చెట్టును తేరా అంటే, గుట్టను తెచ్చినట్లు
chettunu tera ante, guttanu techchinatlu
When asked to bring a tree, it is like bringing a hillock.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone performs a task that is vastly different in scale or nature from what was actually requested, usually due to a lack of understanding or excessive, misdirected effort. It highlights the mismatch between the instruction and the execution.
పాలు ఇచ్చే బర్రెను అమ్మి పైన ఎక్కే దున్నను తెచ్చుకొన్నట్లు
palu ichche barrenu ammi paina ekke dunnanu techchukonnatlu
Like selling a milk-giving buffalo to buy a male buffalo just to ride on it.
This proverb is used to describe a foolish person who gives up a productive or profitable asset for something that provides status or temporary pleasure but is ultimately unproductive or a liability. It highlights poor decision-making where one sacrifices long-term utility for short-term vanity or convenience.
ఎవరు ఇచ్చినది ఈ మాన్యము అంటే, నేనే ఇచ్చుకున్నాను అన్నాడట.
evaru ichchinadi i manyamu ante, nene ichchukunnanu annadata.
When asked " Who gave you the freehold?" he said " I gave it to myself." Said of one who helps himself without regard to the law of meum and tuum.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks legitimate authority or external validation and instead relies on self-proclamations or self-awarded honors. It mocks those who boast about achievements or titles they have unilaterally claimed without any basis in truth or merit.
చిచ్చును ఒడిగట్టి తెచ్చినట్లు
chichchunu odigatti techchinatlu
Like carrying fire tied in the fold of one's garment
This expression is used to describe a person or a situation that brings trouble, danger, or destruction along with them. Just as carrying live embers in a cloth is dangerous and will eventually burn the person carrying it, inviting a troublemaker or initiating a risky plan will lead to self-destruction.
గొర్రెను తినేవాడు పోతే, బర్రెను తినేవాడు వచ్చినట్టు.
gorrenu tinevadu pote, barrenu tinevadu vachchinattu.
When the man who ate sheep went, a man who ate buffa- los came. Parting with one rascal and getting a greater scoundrel in his place.
This expression is used to describe a situation where an existing problem or a bad person is replaced by something or someone even worse. It highlights that instead of finding relief, one has ended up with a more difficult or greedy person/situation.