తన తలుపు తీసి పొరుగింటికి పెట్టి రాత్రి అంతా కుక్కలు తోలుతూ కూర్చున్నట్టు.

tana talupu tisi porugintiki petti ratri anta kukkalu tolutu kurchunnattu.

Translation

Having taken his own door and put it on his neighbour's house, he spent the whole night in driving away the dogs. Over generous. Charity begins at home.

Meaning

This proverb describes a person who foolishly creates trouble for themselves by being over-generous or sacrificing their own basic needs/security to help others who may not even need it. It is used to mock someone who makes poor decisions that lead to self-inflicted hardship.

Related Phrases

He opens the door for the robber and then awakes his master. A double dealing rascal.

This expression describes a person who plays both sides or creates a problem and then acts like they are trying to solve it. It refers to someone who is hypocritical, treacherous, or double-dealing, pretending to be loyal while secretly aiding the enemy.

Opening the door of someone else's house and then chasing away the dogs.

This proverb describes a person who interferes in others' business without being asked, often creating a problem first and then acting as if they are doing a great favor by solving it. It is used to mock someone who takes unnecessary responsibility for things that don't concern them, especially when their presence wasn't required in the first place.

When an ill-treated daughter-in-law at last got some bad food from her mother-in-law, she told the neighbours she had been sumptuously fed. Real want is not dainty.

This proverb describes a person who is so deprived or in such a desperate situation that even the smallest, lowest-quality help feels like a massive luxury. It is used to highlight extreme gratitude born out of severe necessity, or sometimes to mock someone's lack of standards due to their poverty-stricken state.

When the house was on fire, he tried to light his cigar with it.

This proverb is used to describe an extremely selfish or opportunistic person who tries to find a small personal benefit even in a situation of great disaster or someone else's misery. It highlights a lack of empathy and a focus on trivial personal needs during a crisis.

Will a dog-like mind let you sit still?

This expression compares the human mind to a restless dog that is constantly moving, wandering, and seeking distractions. It is used to describe the nature of a person who lacks focus, mental peace, or the ability to stay still in one place or on one task.

Is a crow white or is leather white anywhere?

This expression is used to highlight an impossible or unnatural situation. Just as a crow can never be white and leather is inherently dark, certain truths or character traits cannot be changed no matter how much one tries to pretend otherwise.

Will dogs not enter a house without a door?

This proverb is used to illustrate that if there are no boundaries, rules, or protections in place, unwanted elements or trouble will inevitably enter. It emphasizes the necessity of discipline and security to prevent chaos or exploitation.

Like the flood subsiding. Perfect stillness after a tumult. After a storm comes a calm.

This expression is used to describe something that has been done with extreme precision, neatness, or perfection. It is most commonly used to compliment beautiful handwriting, straight lines, or a very well-executed task that looks flawlessly continuous and smooth.

Like removing one's own door, giving it to a neighbor, and sitting up all night chasing away dogs.

This proverb describes a person who foolishly creates problems for themselves by helping others excessively or unnecessarily at their own expense. It refers to someone who lacks common sense in prioritizing their own basic security or needs before trying to be charitable, resulting in a situation where they must work unnecessarily hard to fix the mess they created.

The neighbour's cat is the ally of the house cat. Both join in mischief.

This expression is used to describe a situation where two people, often who should be at odds or are expected to be rivals, secretly collaborate or help each other for mutual benefit. It is frequently used to highlight how internal and external parties might conspire together, often in a negative or mischievous context.