తెగబలిసిన ఆబోతెద్దు తానెక్కదు, ఇంకొకదానిని ఎక్కనీయదు.

tegabalisina aboteddu tanekkadu, inkokadanini ekkaniyadu.

Translation

An excessively fat stud bull neither climbs nor lets another one climb.

Meaning

This expression describes a dog-in-the-manger situation. It is used to criticize a person who is unable or unwilling to perform a task or utilize a resource, but out of spite or arrogance, prevents others from doing so as well.

Related Phrases

It doesn't let you cook and see, and it doesn't stop burning.

This expression is used to describe a problematic, irritable, or difficult person or situation that is constantly bothersome. It refers to a fire that is too smokey to allow cooking but too stubborn to go out, representing a state of constant annoyance that neither resolves nor allows progress.

If a cigar is lit, it won't let you talk.

This expression is used to describe a person who is so self-centered or obsessed with their own activity that they completely ignore others or refuse to engage in conversation. It can also refer to a situation where a small task or habit becomes a distraction that prevents meaningful communication.

One is Aggiramudu (Fire-Rama), and the other is Mairavanudu.

This expression is used to describe two people who are equally troublesome, dangerous, or difficult to deal with. It implies that both individuals are formidable in their own way, usually in a negative or mischievous sense, making them a destructive pair.

One missed being born to the maternal aunt, the other missed being born to the mother.

This expression is used to describe two people who are equally wicked, cunning, or troublesome. It implies that there is no difference in their bad character; if one is bad, the other is slightly worse or just as bad. It is similar to saying 'two of a kind' or 'chips off the same block' in a negative context.

The co-wife doesn't let one thrive, and the fishhook doesn't let the bait rise.

This proverb describes a situation where a person is trapped between two obstructive or competing forces that prevent any progress. It is used to express how internal friction or constant interference from others can make it impossible for someone to succeed or move forward in their life or work.

One is Ilvala and the other is Vatapi

This expression is used to describe a pair of people who are equally wicked, cunning, or dangerous and work together to deceive or harm others. It originates from the story of two demon brothers in Hindu mythology who collaborated to kill travelers.

A king has three servants - one who doesn't answer when called, one who hides behind pillars, and another who simply goes away.

This is a humorous proverb or riddle describing useless or lazy subordinates. It is used to mock a situation where a leader is surrounded by incompetent people: one who ignores instructions, one who avoids work by hiding, and one who simply disappears when needed.

One who hides behind a pillar, one who goes away, and one who never returns once gone.

This is a riddle describing the three main functions of a human being: The pillar-hider is the body (which stays in one place), the one who goes is the breath (inhaling and exhaling), and the one who never returns once gone is the life force or soul (Atma). It is used in philosophical or spiritual contexts to reflect on the transient nature of life.

One is a whale, and the other is a leviathan.

This expression is used to compare two individuals who are both formidable or cunning, suggesting that if one is powerful, the other is even more so. It implies a competition between two equally strong or deceptive personalities.

Even if its thighs swell to the size of a buffalo's, it will never become an elephant.

This proverb is used to describe people who think they can achieve greatness or a higher status simply by outward appearance or minor improvements. It implies that inner quality, true strength, or inherent nature cannot be changed through superficial growth. Just as a buffalo can never become an elephant no matter how big it grows, a person lacking true character or capability cannot become great just by imitating the external traits of greatness.