పుండు మీద కారం చల్లినట్లు
pundu mida karam challinatlu
Like sprinkling chili powder on a wound.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone adds insult to injury or makes a painful situation even worse with their actions or words. It is the Telugu equivalent of 'rubbing salt in the wound'.
Related Phrases
ఆశ ఆలి మీద, ఆధారం చాప మీద.
asha ali mida, adharam chapa mida.
His desire is on his wife and his support on his mat. Nothing for it but resignation.
This proverb describes a person who has grand desires or high aspirations but lacks the basic resources or means to fulfill them. It specifically refers to someone who wants to lead a family life or have comforts while living in extreme poverty, where they don't even have a proper bed, only a simple mat.
ఉరిసినచోట ఉడుకులు చల్లినట్లు.
urisinachota udukulu challinatlu.
Like pouring hot water on a raw, peeled wound.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone's suffering is aggravated by further misfortune or harsh words. It is similar to the English idiom 'to rub salt in the wound.' It refers to making a painful situation even more unbearable through insensitive actions or additional problems.
ఏనుగు మీద ఎండవేసినట్లు
enugu mida endavesinatlu
Like the sun shining on an elephant.
This expression is used to describe a situation where an action or criticism has no effect on someone. Just as an elephant is too large and thick-skinned to be bothered by the heat of the sun, some people are indifferent to insults, advice, or external pressures.
పుండు మీద ఉప్పు చల్లినట్లు
pundu mida uppu challinatlu
Like rubbing salt on a wound
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone's existing pain, misfortune, or sorrow is aggravated by further unkindness or additional problems. It is used when a bad situation is made even worse by someone's comments or actions.
వేగే వెలుగ మీద వేడినీళ్లు చల్లినట్లు
vege veluga mida vedinillu challinatlu
Like pouring hot water on a burning fire.
This expression is used to describe an action that makes a bad situation even worse or intensifies an already heated conflict. It is similar to the English idiom 'adding fuel to the fire,' though it specifically uses the imagery of hot water being ineffective or aggravating to a flame.
పుండుమీద కొరవి పెట్టినట్లు
pundumida koravi pettinatlu
Like placing a burning brand on a sore.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone adds insult to injury or makes an already painful situation much worse. It is similar to the English idiom 'to rub salt in the wound'.
ఊరిన పుండుమీద ఉప్పుకారం చల్లినట్లు
urina pundumida uppukaram challinatlu
Like sprinkling salt and chili powder on an oozing wound.
This expression describes a situation where someone's existing pain, sorrow, or misfortune is made even worse by another's actions or words. It is the Telugu equivalent of the English idiom 'To rub salt in the wound'.
వట్టింటికి పోచిళ్ళు చల్లినట్లు.
vattintiki pochillu challinatlu.
Like scattering parched grains in an empty house.
This proverb is used to describe an action that is completely useless or produces no result. Parched grains (pochillu) are meant to be eaten; scattering them in an empty, uninhabited house is a waste of resources and effort, as there is no one there to benefit from it.
అగ్గి మీద గుగ్గిలం చల్లినట్లు!
aggi mida guggilam challinatlu!
Like sprinkling guggilam (fragrant resin) on fire!
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone's existing anger is further provoked or aggravated. Just as resin makes a fire flare up intensely, certain words or actions can make a person's temper or an already tense situation much worse.
ఊరి మీద నూరు పడ్డా, కరణము మీద కాసు పడదు
uri mida nuru padda, karanamu mida kasu padadu
Though a hundred [pagodas] be levied from the village, not a cash will be paid by the Karanaṁ. A cash ( కాసు ) is 1-60th of an Anna. The instrument of oppression does not himself suffer.
This proverb describes a situation where an influential person or authority figure remains unaffected by the troubles or financial burdens that plague the community they oversee. It is used to highlight systemic corruption or the cleverness of bureaucrats who ensure their own safety and wealth while others suffer losses.