తొండ పరుగు కంప దాకానే
tonda parugu kampa dakane
A garden lizard's run is only as far as the thorny bush.
This proverb is used to describe someone with limited capability, influence, or reach. Just as a lizard quickly scurries away but can only hide within the safety of a nearby bush, a person's power or boastful threats are limited to their specific domain or narrow boundaries. It is often said to humble someone who is overstepping their bounds or acting more important than they are.
Related Phrases
అదంతా ఒక కంప రామాయణము
adanta oka kampa ramayanamu
That is all a thorny Ramayana
This expression is used to describe a story, explanation, or situation that is unnecessarily long, confusing, messy, and difficult to get through. Just as a 'kampa' (thorny bush) is tangled and hard to navigate, a 'Kampa Ramayanam' refers to a tedious or convoluted narrative that lacks clarity.
పండ్ల చెట్టు కింద ముళ్ళ కంప ఉన్నట్టు.
pandla chettu kinda mulla kampa unnattu.
Like having a thorny bush under a fruit-bearing tree.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where something beneficial or pleasant is made inaccessible or difficult to enjoy due to an underlying nuisance or danger. It refers to a person or thing that possesses great value but is surrounded by unpleasant obstacles or negative associations.
కట్టెను కంపా కాల్చేవాడు
kattenu kampa kalchevadu
One who burns even the bundle of sticks and thorns.
This expression refers to an extremely stingy, ruthless, or destructive person who leaves nothing behind. It describes someone who exploits a resource or situation to the very last bit without any regard for future use or mercy, often used to characterize a person's extreme greed or harsh nature.
పండ్ల చెట్టు కింద ముండ్ల కంప ఉన్నట్టు
pandla chettu kinda mundla kampa unnattu
Like having a thorny bush under a fruit-bearing tree
This expression is used to describe a situation where something beneficial or pleasant is accompanied by an unexpected nuisance or danger. It highlights how a good experience can be ruined or made difficult to access by a small but significant problem nearby, similar to how thorns make it hard to reach for sweet fruits.
చేట భారతము - కంప రామాయణము
cheta bharatamu - kampa ramayanamu
A Mahabharata the size of a winnowing basket - A Ramayana the size of a thorn bush.
This expression is used to describe an excessively long, tedious, and never-ending explanation or story. It refers to someone who stretches a simple point into a confusing and unnecessarily detailed narrative, much like calling a small winnowing basket (cheta) or a small fence (kampa) as grand epics like Mahabharata or Ramayana.
మిద్దె మీది పరుగు
midde midi parugu
Running on the terrace of a house. A hasty beginning.
This expression refers to a situation where there is a lot of effort or activity, but no real progress is made because one is confined to a limited space. It describes futile efforts or a 'running in circles' scenario where the movement doesn't lead to a destination.
కంపతొడుగు ఈడ్చినట్లు
kampatodugu idchinatlu
Like dragging a thorny bush.
This expression is used to describe a task or process that is extremely difficult, messy, and painful to manage. Just as dragging a bundle of thorns (kampa) results in it getting stuck everywhere and causing injuries, this refers to a situation that is unnecessarily complicated and creates more problems than it solves.
ఆలుమగల కలహం, అన్నం తినేదాకానే.
alumagala kalaham, annam tinedakane.
A quarrel between husband and wife lasts only until they sit down to eat.
This proverb suggests that conflicts between a married couple are temporary and short-lived. It highlights the idea that domestic disputes are usually resolved quickly, often by the time the next meal is shared, emphasizing reconciliation over holding grudges.
తొండకు వెలుగు సాక్షి
tondaku velugu sakshi
The bear is witness for the bloodsucker or The hedge is witness for the bloodsucker. According to the first interpretation, a band of Mahomedan freebooters, when seeking on one occasion to discover treasure which had been buried by the inhabitants of a plundered village, having perceived first a chameleon nodding on certain spots and afterwards a bear sniffing in the same places, spent much labour in digging up the earth, but all in vain.—The applica- tion is that natural habits are not to be taken notice of. According to others, the hedge where the chameleon lives should be questioned as to the latter's veracity and character,—the application being that the evidence of one man should be corroborated by that of another. Ask my chum if I am a thief. (Italian.)
This proverb is used to describe a situation where two people who are equally unreliable or biased support each other's claims. It suggests that a witness is just as questionable as the person they are defending, or that their support is expected because of their close association.
మిద్దె మీద పరుగు మీసాల మీద మెరుగు
midde mida parugu misala mida merugu
Running on the roof and shining the mustache.
This expression refers to someone who focuses on outward appearances, vanity, or superficial shows of status while lacking actual substance, property, or a solid foundation. It describes a person who prioritizes pride and showing off over practical stability.