తడిగుడ్డతో గొంతు కోయడం

tadiguddato gontu koyadam

Translation

He cuts a [man's] throat with a wet cloth. Smooth words, but hidden malice. They scratch you with one hand and strike you with the other. (Latin.)

Meaning

This expression describes someone who causes harm or betrays others in a very subtle, smooth, and deceptive manner. It refers to a person who acts like a friend or well-wisher on the surface but secretly ruins or destroys someone's life without them even realizing it until it is too late.

Related Phrases

When power was given to a louse, it bit all over the head.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where an undeserving or small-minded person is given power or responsibility, and they end up causing significant harm or abusing that power. It highlights the dangers of entrusting authority to the wrong person.

Abuse of authority.

Like running with the rabbits and hunting with the hounds.

This expression describes a person who is hypocritical or double-dealing. It refers to someone who pretends to be a friend to both sides of a conflict, or someone who tries to support opposing interests simultaneously for their own benefit.

Does one ask a sheep's permission before slitting its throat?

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone in power or authority makes a decision that negatively impacts a subordinate without consulting them, or when a person's consent is irrelevant to an inevitable outcome. It highlights the futility of expecting a victim's permission for their own exploitation or harm.

Slitting the throat with a wet cloth

This expression describes someone who causes harm or betrays others in a very subtle, smooth, and seemingly harmless manner. It refers to a person who acts like a friend or well-wisher on the surface but performs an act of extreme cruelty or treachery without making a scene.

Cutting the throat with a wet cloth.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone betrays or harms another person in a smooth, deceptive, and slow manner without them realizing it immediately. It refers to a 'silent killer' approach or a 'wolf in sheep's clothing' scenario where treachery is hidden behind a gentle facade.

Disputing with the aged [ is as wrong as ] keeping company with ghosts.

This proverb highlights the futility and danger of two specific actions: engaging in heated arguments with wise or powerful elders (which leads to trouble) and attempting to befriend the dead (which is impossible or morbid). It is used to advise someone to respect social hierarchies and focus on the living and the practical.

Like serving poison along with milk

This expression describes a situation where something harmful or malicious is hidden within something seemingly good, pure, or beneficial. It is used to caution against treachery or to describe a betrayal where kindness is used as a facade for a hidden agenda.

Are you to cut your feet because your shoes are too small?

This proverb highlights the folly of making permanent, harmful changes to oneself or a core system just to accommodate temporary or insignificant external constraints. It is used when someone tries to force a solution that causes more damage than the problem it is trying to solve.

Just because the sandals are small, should one cut off their feet?

This proverb is used to criticize people who make drastic, self-destructive changes to themselves or their core principles just to fit into a temporary, trivial, or external situation. It emphasizes that the person (or the goal) is more important than the accessory (or the means).

Argue with elders, fight with ancestors.

This proverb warns against the futility and disrespect of engaging in constant arguments with elders or ancestors. It suggests that such conflicts are destructive, lead to bad reputation, and result in mental unrest since elders possess more experience and ancestors represent one's roots.