అప్ప వాల్చింది కొంపలార్చింది
appa valchindi kompalarchindi
The sister leaned/rested and the houses were ruined
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person's arrival or their seemingly small actions lead to unintended disastrous consequences or total ruin for others. It often refers to a bad omen or someone who brings misfortune wherever they go.
Related Phrases
రెప్పలార్పేవాళ్ళు కొంపలారుస్తారు
reppalarpevallu kompalarustaru
Those who blink their eyes can ruin households
This proverb is used to warn about people who appear extremely innocent, quiet, or soft-spoken on the outside but are secretly cunning and capable of causing significant damage or destruction. It suggests that one should not judge a person's character solely by their calm or docile demeanor.
పూచింది పొడమంత, కాచింది గంపంత
puchindi podamanta, kachindi gampanta
Flowered as much as a small patch, but yielded a basketful.
This expression is used to describe a situation where a small effort or a modest beginning leads to a surprisingly large or abundant result. It is often used to praise high productivity or unexpected success from minimal resources.
దొంగలు దోచిన కొంప
dongalu dochina kompa
A house looted by thieves
This expression is used to describe a place that is in a state of absolute chaos, emptiness, or total disarray. It can refer to a house that looks messy or, metaphorically, to a situation where everything of value (be it materials, ideas, or assets) has been stripped away, leaving behind a scene of devastation or utter disorder.
పూచింది ఒక ఎత్తు కాచింది మరొక ఎత్తు
puchindi oka ettu kachindi maroka ettu
Blooming is one height, bearing fruit is another height.
This expression means that starting a task is one thing, but successfully completing it or seeing the results is a different and often more difficult challenge. It is used to highlight the difference between initial potential and final achievement.
ముందు చచ్చింది ముత్తైదువ, వెనుక వచ్చింది విధవ
mundu chachchindi muttaiduva, venuka vachchindi vidhava
The one who died first is a sumangali (auspicious woman), the one who followed is a widow.
This proverb is used to comment on irony or hypocritical situations where people judge others based on timing or status, even when they share a similar fate. It highlights that the first person to experience a situation or commit an act often gains a higher status or 'moral ground' compared to the second person who does the exact same thing.
ఇచ్చింది పోయింది అసలు రాదు.
ichchindi poyindi asalu radu.
What was given is gone, and the principal will never return.
This expression is used to describe a situation where money or resources lent or invested are completely lost. It signifies a total loss where neither the profit/interest nor the original capital is recoverable. It is often used as a cautionary remark about bad debts or risky ventures.
వసంతం వచ్చింది కోకిల కూసింది.
vasantam vachchindi kokila kusindi.
Spring has arrived, and the cuckoo has sung.
This expression is used to describe a natural or harmonious sequence of events where everything happens as it should at the right time. It signifies the onset of a beautiful season or a positive change, often used metaphorically to indicate that good times or expected outcomes have finally manifested.
చూచింది పాము, కరిచింది మామిడిటెంక
chuchindi pamu, karichindi mamiditenka
What was seen was a snake, but what bit was a mango stone.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is so overwhelmed by fear or a preconceived notion that they misinterpret a harmless event as a dangerous one. It highlights how psychological fear can make a person believe a disaster has occurred, even when the actual cause is trivial (like a sharp mango seed poking someone who thought they saw a snake).
మొహమాటానికి పోతే ముండ గర్భిణి అయిందట.
mohamataniki pote munda garbhini ayindata.
They say a widow became pregnant because she was too hesitant to say no.
This proverb is used to warn against the dangers of being overly polite or hesitant (mohamatam). It suggests that if you cannot say 'no' firmly when needed and act only to please others or avoid awkwardness, you may end up facing disastrous consequences or carrying a heavy burden that was never yours to bear.
లంకంత కొంప
lankanta kompa
A house as big as Lanka
This expression is used to describe a very large, spacious, or sprawling house. It draws a comparison to the mythical city of Lanka from the Ramayana, which was known for its immense size and grandeur. It is often used to emphasize that a house is disproportionately large for the number of people living in it or simply to remark on its vastness.