తినే కూటిలో మన్ను పోసుకోవడం
tine kutilo mannu posukovadam
Pouring soil/mud into the food one is eating.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone knowingly or unknowingly ruins their own source of livelihood, income, or a beneficial situation. It signifies self-sabotage or the act of destroying one's own means of survival.
Related Phrases
ఏనుగు తన నెత్తిన తానే మన్ను పోసుకున్నట్లు
enugu tana nettina tane mannu posukunnatlu
Like an elephant pouring sand on its own head
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone brings trouble upon themselves or ruins their own reputation through their own foolish actions, despite having power or status. Just as an elephant takes a bath and immediately throws dust on itself, it refers to self-destructive behavior.
కాలిన మన్నూ కాలని మన్నూ అంటవు
kalina mannu kalani mannu antavu
Burnt earth will not adhere to unburnt. People in different positions in life cannot be very intimate.
This expression is used to describe two people or entities that are fundamentally incompatible or cannot reconcile their differences. Just as burnt clay/soil loses its binding property and cannot merge with raw, unburnt soil, people with opposing natures or those who have had a major falling out cannot be easily brought back together.
అందులో పస లేకపోయినా, అరలో మంచం వేయమన్నట్లు
andulo pasa lekapoyina, aralo mancham veyamannatlu
Even if there is no essence in it, asking to lay a bed in the inner room.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone demands high honors, special arrangements, or grand treatment despite the underlying matter or person having no real substance, value, or quality. It highlights the irony of expecting luxury for something worthless.
ఊరకున్న ప్రాణానికి ఉరి పోసుకున్నట్లు
urakunna prananiki uri posukunnatlu
Like hanging a life that was staying still.
This expression is used when someone unnecessarily invites trouble or complicates a peaceful situation by taking an uncalled-for action. It describes the act of creating a problem where none existed before.
పొరుగు పచ్చగా ఉంటే పొయ్యిలో నీళ్ళు పోసుకున్నట్లు
porugu pachchaga unte poyyilo nillu posukunnatlu
Like pouring water into one's own stove when the neighbor is flourishing.
This proverb describes the height of envy and spite. It refers to people who are so jealous of others' success (greenery/prosperity) that they self-destruct or stop their own progress out of sheer malice or depression caused by seeing others thrive.
ఆడలేక మద్దెల ఓటి అన్నట్లు
adaleka maddela oti annatlu
Like saying the drum is broken because one cannot dance.
This expression is used to describe a person who lacks skill or fails at a task but blames their tools, environment, or others for their failure. It is equivalent to the English proverb 'A bad workman always blames his tools'.
కుక్కలు కుక్కలూ పోట్లాడుకుని, కూట్లో దుమ్ము పోసుకున్నాయట.
kukkalu kukkalu potladukuni, kutlo dummu posukunnayata.
Dogs fought with each other and ended up throwing dust into their own food bowl.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where two or more parties involved in an internal conflict or petty quarrel end up causing mutual self-harm. By fighting among themselves, they ruin the very resources or benefits they were meant to share, resulting in a loss for everyone involved.
తవ్వి మీద తోసుకున్నట్లు
tavvi mida tosukunnatlu
Like digging and pushing it onto oneself.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone unnecessarily creates a problem for themselves through their own actions or meddling. It is similar to 'digging one's own grave' or bringing avoidable trouble upon one's own head.
ఏనుగు మదిస్తే నెత్తిన మన్ను పోసుకుంటుంది
enugu madiste nettina mannu posukuntundi
When an elephant goes into musth, it throws dust on its own head.
This proverb describes how an arrogant or intoxicated person often brings about their own downfall or ruin. Just as a rogue elephant in musth (a state of aggression) blindly tosses dirt on itself, a person blinded by pride or power will make foolish decisions that harm their own reputation and well-being.
మానెడు మట్టిలో పోసుకుంటే ఇద్దుము ఇంటిలో పోసుకుంటారు
manedu mattilo posukunte iddumu intilo posukuntaru
If you pour a mana in the soil, they will pour an idumu in the house.
This proverb highlights the abundance of nature and the rewards of hard work in farming. A 'mana' and 'idumu' are traditional measures of volume, with an idumu being significantly larger. It means that if a farmer sows even a small measure of seeds into the earth, nature returns a much larger harvest into their home. It is used to encourage investment and labor.