తోక తొక్కిన పాములాగా లేచాడు

toka tokkina pamulaga lechadu

Translation

He sprang up like a serpent when its tail is trodden on. Applied to a sudden burst of anger in any one on his evil ways being exposed.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe someone who reacts with sudden, intense, and fierce anger. Just as a snake strikes back instantly and aggressively when its tail is stepped on, this phrase characterizes a person who becomes extremely provoked or defensive due to an insult or an injury.

Related Phrases

No matter how early I woke up, the dawn broke right at the acacia pond.

This expression is used to describe a situation where despite one's best efforts or an early start, progress is hindered and one ends up stuck at the very beginning or a nearby obstacle. It signifies that some tasks take longer than expected regardless of preparation, or that bad luck can stall progress.

Whether a noble woman wakes up at brunch time or a lazy woman wakes up at cockcrow, it is the same.

This proverb highlights that character and efficiency matter more than just the timing of an action. A capable person can achieve their goals even if they start late, while an incompetent or lazy person will remain unproductive regardless of how early they begin.

One must work like a buffalo, and eat like a gentleman.

This proverb emphasizes the value of hard work and its rewards. It suggests that one should toil rigorously and tirelessly (like a buffalo in the fields) during their working years or phase so that they can eventually enjoy a life of luxury, comfort, and dignity (like a lord or nobleman).

Poverty has many words; a funeral rite has many curries.

This proverb highlights irony and hypocrisy. It refers to people who lack resources or capability but overcompensate with empty talk or excuses. Similarly, it mocks how some people prepare an excessive variety of dishes for a funeral feast (Thaddinam) despite the occasion being one of mourning or limited means. It is used to describe someone who talks big but has nothing of substance to show.

However early he rose the day always dawned while he was at the Tumma tank.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where, despite one's best efforts or an early start, progress is hindered by repetitive obstacles or lack of real advancement. It refers to someone who starts a task early but wastes time or gets stuck at the very first stage, resulting in no significant outcome by the time they expected to be finished.

Tumma is the Acacia Arabica. Tanks are often named from the trees planted around them. The earlier the man got up the more he dilly-dallied on the strength of it, so the sun always found him at the tank, in the way to his work. Early up, and never the nearer.

Like a cobra whose tail has been stepped on

This expression is used to describe someone who becomes extremely furious, aggressive, or reacts with intense anger when provoked. Just as a cobra strikes back instantly and fiercely when its tail is trodden upon, this phrase characterizes a person's sudden and violent retaliation to an insult or injury.

The antelope has only to rise to be ready for a journey. Said of a man ready to go any where.

This expression is used to describe someone who acts impulsively or starts a task immediately without any prior planning, preparation, or deliberation. It refers to a person who is always in a hurry to get things moving the moment the thought strikes them.

No matter how early you wake up, the day always breaks at the acacia pond.

This expression is used to describe a situation where, despite one's best efforts or early start, a particular obstacle or habit consistently causes a delay, leading to the same late result. It highlights the futility of effort when there is a recurring bottleneck or lack of progress.

He is at the age when he can tread on and break a date- thorn. Said of an unruly scamp.

This expression refers to the peak of youth and physical vigor. It describes a stage in life where a person is so energetic and strong that they feel invincible, to the extent of being able to crush sharp thorns under their feet without fear or harm.

Will the wealth of a paramour's sons be used for charity rather than for fines?

This proverb suggests that wealth acquired through immoral or ill-gotten means will only be wasted on useless expenses or penalties (dandugalu) rather than being spent on noble causes like charity or religious deeds. It is used to remark that money earned dishonestly never serves a good purpose.