తల దన్నేవాడు పోతే, తాడి తన్నేవాడు వస్తాడు
tala dannevadu pote, tadi tannevadu vastadu
If a man who kicks heads leaves, a man who kicks palm trees will arrive
This proverb is used to warn that if one problematic or clever person leaves, they might be replaced by someone even more difficult, smarter, or more dangerous. It implies that things can always get more intense or that there is always someone superior in skill or mischief.
Related Phrases
తాడి తన్నే వానిని తలతన్నే వాడుంటాడు
tadi tanne vanini talatanne vaduntadu
For someone who can kick a palm tree, there will be someone who can kick their head.
This expression is used to remind people that no matter how powerful, clever, or skilled they think they are, there is always someone more capable or superior to them. It is a warning against arrogance and a reminder that every expert has a master.
తాడి తన్ను వాని తల తన్ను వాడు ఉండును.
tadi tannu vani tala tannu vadu undunu.
There will be one who can kick the head of the one who kicks the top of a palm tree.
There are always people who are of superior abilities. One should try for the best in life, but after achieving a good position in life, one should not feel that one is at the top of the world; there are still higher peaks to reach.
తాళ్లు తన్నేవారి తలలు తన్నేవాడు
tallu tannevari talalu tannevadu
A man that kicks the heads of people who kick the tops of Palmyra trees. More wicked than the other.
This expression is used to describe a person who is smarter, more cunning, or more powerful than someone who is already considered clever or formidable. It is the equivalent of the English saying 'to meet one's match' or 'there is always a bigger fish.'
తిన్న ఇంటి వాసాలు లెక్కపెట్టడం
tinna inti vasalu lekkapettadam
A man that counts the rafters of his benefactor's house. A story is told of a man who counted the rafters, &c., of a house in order that he might take possession of it and found his claim to it on this know- ledge. Hence the term is applied to a person basely attempting to swindle another, who had befriended him, out of his property.
This proverb describes an act of extreme ingratitude or treachery. It refers to someone who seeks to harm or find faults in a person or household that helped them or provided them with food and shelter. It is used to condemn those who betray their benefactors.
All's lost that's put into a riven dish.
ఒక పూట తినేవాడు యోగి, రెండు పూటలు తినేవాడు భోగి, మూడు పూటలా తినేవాడు రోగి
oka puta tinevadu yogi, rendu putalu tinevadu bhogi, mudu putala tinevadu rogi
One who eats once a day is a Yogi, one who eats twice a day is a Bhogi, one who eats thrice a day is a Rogi
This traditional Telugu proverb highlights the health benefits of moderation in eating. It suggests that eating once a day leads to spiritual and physical discipline (Yogi), eating twice a day is for those enjoying a worldly life (Bhogi), while eating three or more times a day leads to sickness or a diseased state (Rogi).
తోలు కొరికేవాడు పోతే, బొమికలు నమిలేవాడు వస్తాడు.
tolu korikevadu pote, bomikalu namilevadu vastadu.
If the one who bites the skin leaves, the one who chews the bones will arrive.
This proverb is used to warn that replacing a bad person or situation might lead to an even worse alternative. It suggests that sometimes the current hardship, though difficult, is more manageable than the potential unknown trouble that follows. It is similar to the English expression 'out of the frying pan and into the fire'.
దున్నేవాడు లెక్క చూస్తే నాగలి కూడా మిగలదు
dunnevadu lekka chuste nagali kuda migaladu
If the plougher look into his accounts [he will find] that the plough even does not remain [ as profit ]. The expenses of cultivation.
This proverb highlights that in certain professions like agriculture or creative pursuits, if one becomes overly concerned with minute profit-and-loss calculations or potential risks from the start, they would never be able to complete the work. It is used to suggest that some tasks require hard work and faith rather than just mathematical skepticism, as over-analysis can lead to inaction or the realization that the effort exceeds the material gain.
గొర్రెను తినేవాడు పోతే, బర్రెను తినేవాడు వచ్చినట్టు.
gorrenu tinevadu pote, barrenu tinevadu vachchinattu.
When the man who ate sheep went, a man who ate buffa- los came. Parting with one rascal and getting a greater scoundrel in his place.
This expression is used to describe a situation where an existing problem or a bad person is replaced by something or someone even worse. It highlights that instead of finding relief, one has ended up with a more difficult or greedy person/situation.
మాంసం తినేవాడు పోతే, బొమికలు తినేవాడు వస్తాడు
mamsam tinevadu pote, bomikalu tinevadu vastadu
If the one who eats meat leaves, the one who eats bones will come.
This proverb is used to warn that if a bad person or a difficult situation is replaced, the successor might be even worse or more exploitative. It highlights the fear that the 'new' might be more desperate or damaging than the 'old'.
కాళ్ళకు మొక్కేవాడు పోయి, కంఠాన్ని పట్టుకొనేవాడు వచ్చినట్లు.
kallaku mokkevadu poyi, kanthanni pattukonevadu vachchinatlu.
Like one who bows to the feet leaving, and one who grabs the throat arriving.
This proverb describes a situation where a manageable or respectful problem is replaced by a much more aggressive, dangerous, or life-threatening one. It is used when a situation goes from being mild or submissive to being hostile and suffocating.