గాదె మీద కుక్క పడుకున్నట్లు (గాటిలో కుక్క)
gade mida kukka padukunnatlu (gatilo kukka)
Like a dog lying on a grain storage bin (Dog in the manger)
This expression refers to someone who prevents others from using or enjoying something that they themselves have no use for or cannot consume. It is the Telugu equivalent of the English idiom 'Dog in the manger'.
Related Phrases
చిత్త కార్తెలో కుక్కలాగా
chitta kartelo kukkalaga
Like a dog in the Chitta rain season (Chitta Karthe).
This expression is used to describe someone who is wandering aimlessly, behaving restlessly, or is extremely agitated. In Telugu culture, it is observed that dogs often become very active, loud, or roam excessively during the specific lunar mansion period known as Chitta Karthe, which usually coincides with the breeding season.
బూడిద గుంటలో కుక్క
budida guntalo kukka
Like a dog lying in the warm ashes. Keeping quiet for a while, but soon returning to mischief.
This expression is used to describe a person who settles into a comfortable or lazy situation and refuses to move or take up responsibilities. Just as a dog finds warmth in a pit of warm ashes and remains there stubbornly, it refers to someone who is stagnant and indifferent to their surroundings or progress.
గాడిలో కుక్క గడ్డి తినదు, తిననీయదు
gadilo kukka gaddi tinadu, tinaniyadu
The dog in the manger won't eat the grass, and won't let others eat it.
This expression is used to describe a person who prevents others from enjoying or using something that they themselves have no use for. It highlights a spiteful or dog-in-the-manger attitude where one's selfishness results in waste or unnecessary deprivation for others.
తిన్న కుక్క తినిపోతే, కన్న కుక్కను కట్టేసినారంట.
tinna kukka tinipote, kanna kukkanu kattesinaranta.
While the dog that ate the food ran away, they tied up the dog that saw it happen.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the actual culprit or wrongdoer escapes, and an innocent bystander or a witness is unfairly blamed or punished for the deed. It highlights a failure of justice or a mistake in identifying the true offender.
తిన్న కుక్క తినిపోతే, కన్న కుక్కకు కాలు విరుగగొట్టినట్లు.
tinna kukka tinipote, kanna kukkaku kalu virugagottinatlu.
When the dog that ate the food ran away, breaking the leg of the dog that was just watching.
This expression is used to describe a situation where an innocent person is punished for the mistakes or crimes committed by someone else who escaped. It highlights unfair treatment or misplaced anger.
తిన్న కుక్క తిని పోతే, కన్న కుక్కను పట్టి కాళ్లు విరగకొట్టినట్టు
tinna kukka tini pote, kanna kukkanu patti kallu viragakottinattu
When the dog which had eaten [ the food ] ran off, he caught hold of another dog and broke its leg. Making the innocent suffer for the guilty.
This proverb describes a situation where the actual culprit escapes, and an innocent person who happens to be nearby is punished for the crime. It is used to highlight injustice or a lapse in judgement where the wrong person is held accountable for someone else's mistake.
పండ్లూడిన కుక్క పసరాన్ని కరువదా?
pandludina kukka pasaranni karuvada?
Will a dog with fallen teeth not bite the cattle?
This proverb is used to describe a situation where even if someone has lost their primary power or strength, their basic nature or instincts do not change. Just because a dog is old and toothless, it doesn't mean it won't try to attack or snap at prey. It implies that one should still be cautious of a person's inherent character regardless of their current weakened state.
కుక్క పని గాడిద చేసినట్లు
kukka pani gadida chesinatlu
Like a donkey trying to do a dog's job
This expression is used when someone tries to perform a task that is not within their expertise or role, often resulting in failure or chaos. It highlights the importance of sticking to one's own responsibilities and strengths.
గతిలేనివాడు గాడిదకాళ్ళు పట్టుకొన్నట్లు
gatilenivadu gadidakallu pattukonnatlu
Like a helpless man clutching the legs of a donkey.
This expression is used to describe a person who, in a state of absolute desperation or helplessness, seeks assistance from someone completely insignificant, unworthy, or incapable of helping. It highlights the irony and humiliation of being forced to rely on the lowest possible means when one has no other choice.
కూటికుండ కుక్కముట్టినట్లు
kutikunda kukkamuttinatlu
Like a dog touching the pot of cooked food
This expression is used to describe a situation where something pure or useful becomes completely ruined, defiled, or unusable because of the interference of an unworthy or undesirable person. In traditional contexts, if a dog touched a cooking pot, the entire meal was considered polluted and had to be discarded.