పొరుగు పచ్చగా ఉంటే పొయ్యిలో నీళ్ళు పోసుకున్నట్లు
porugu pachchaga unte poyyilo nillu posukunnatlu
Like pouring water into one's own stove when the neighbor is flourishing.
This proverb describes the height of envy and spite. It refers to people who are so jealous of others' success (greenery/prosperity) that they self-destruct or stop their own progress out of sheer malice or depression caused by seeing others thrive.
Related Phrases
ఏనుగు తన నెత్తిన తానే మన్ను పోసుకున్నట్లు
enugu tana nettina tane mannu posukunnatlu
Like an elephant pouring sand on its own head
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone brings trouble upon themselves or ruins their own reputation through their own foolish actions, despite having power or status. Just as an elephant takes a bath and immediately throws dust on itself, it refers to self-destructive behavior.
ఎదుటి పొయ్యి మండితే తన పొయ్యిలో నీళ్లు పోసుకున్నట్టు
eduti poyyi mandite tana poyyilo nillu posukunnattu
When the fire was lighted in the opposite house, he threw water on his own.
This expression describes the irrational and self-destructive nature of extreme jealousy. It refers to someone who is so consumed by envy of another person's success or prosperity that they sabotage their own progress or well-being out of spite or sheer frustration.
An envious man waxes lean with the fatness of his neighbour. Envy is its own torturer. ( Danish ? ) * Wer einen lobt in Praesentia und schimpft in Absentia, den hole die Pestilentia. † Avindayg er sin egen Böddel.
ఓటి కుండలో నీళ్ళు పోసినట్టు
oti kundalo nillu posinattu
Like pouring water into a leaky pot
This expression is used to describe a situation where effort or resources are being completely wasted on something that cannot be salvaged or retained. It refers to a futile action where despite continuous input, there is no result or progress because the foundation is fundamentally flawed or broken.
తినే కూటిలో మన్ను పోసుకోవడం
tine kutilo mannu posukovadam
Pouring soil/mud into the food one is eating.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone knowingly or unknowingly ruins their own source of livelihood, income, or a beneficial situation. It signifies self-sabotage or the act of destroying one's own means of survival.
పచ్చగా ఉంటే పారాడేది, వెచ్చగా ఉంటే వెళ్ళిపోయేది
pachchaga unte paradedi, vechchaga unte vellipoyedi
If it is green, it crawls; if it is hot, it leaves.
This is a traditional Telugu riddle where the answer is 'Moisture' or 'The feeling of lushness'. In a metaphorical sense, it is often used to describe wealth or prosperity (represented by 'greenery'), noting that people will flock to you when you are prosperous but will abandon you when times become difficult or 'hot'.
పొరుగు పచ్చగా ఉంటే, పొయ్యిలో నీళ్లు పోసుకున్నట్టు
porugu pachchaga unte, poyyilo nillu posukunnattu
When his neighbour prospered he poured water on his own hearth.
This proverb describes the toxic nature of extreme envy. It refers to people who are so jealous of others' success or prosperity (being 'green') that they self-destruct or extinguish their own progress and happiness (extinguishing their own cooking fire) out of spite or misery.
An envious act. To lose one eye that you may deprive another of two. (Spanish.)!
పెనము మీద నుండి పొయ్యిలో పడ్డట్లు
penamu mida nundi poyyilo paddatlu
Like falling from the frying pan into the fire
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone tries to escape a difficult or bad situation, only to end up in an even worse one. It is equivalent to the English idiom 'out of the frying pan and into the fire.'
మానెడు మట్టిలో పోసుకుంటే ఇద్దుము ఇంటిలో పోసుకుంటారు
manedu mattilo posukunte iddumu intilo posukuntaru
If you pour a mana in the soil, they will pour an idumu in the house.
This proverb highlights the abundance of nature and the rewards of hard work in farming. A 'mana' and 'idumu' are traditional measures of volume, with an idumu being significantly larger. It means that if a farmer sows even a small measure of seeds into the earth, nature returns a much larger harvest into their home. It is used to encourage investment and labor.
బట్టవిప్పి నీళ్ళు పోసుకుంటూ బావగారు వచ్చారని నిటారున నిల్చుందట
battavippi nillu posukuntu bavagaru vachcharani nitaruna nilchundata
While bathing without clothes, she stood up straight because her brother-in-law arrived.
This proverb is used to describe a person who, in an attempt to show respect or follow social etiquette, ends up doing something even more foolish or shameful. It highlights a lack of common sense where the 'remedy' or reaction is worse than the initial situation.
పచ్చగా ఉన్న దగ్గర మేసి, వెచ్చగా ఉన్న దగ్గర పడుకో
pachchaga unna daggara mesi, vechchaga unna daggara paduko
Graze where it is green, sleep where it is warm
This proverb describes a person who is opportunistic or seeking extreme comfort and convenience. It is used to refer to someone who enjoys resources where they are plentiful and seeks shelter where it is most comfortable, often without contributing or showing loyalty. It can also imply living a life of ease and smart survival.