ఉల్లిపాయంత బలిజ ఉంటే, ఊరంతా చెడుస్తాడు.
ullipayanta balija unte, uranta chedustadu.
If there is a Balija as small as an onion, he will ruin the whole village.
This is a traditional Telugu proverb (sameta) used to describe a person who is small in stature or status but possesses a cunning or mischievous nature capable of causing widespread trouble. It highlights how a single manipulative individual can disrupt the peace of an entire community.
Related Phrases
గోరంత ఉంటే కొండంత చేస్తాడు
goranta unte kondanta chestadu
When it is as small as a finger nail, he makes a mountain of it. To make a mountain of a mole-hill.
This expression is used to describe someone who has a habit of exaggerating small, insignificant matters or trivial issues into major problems or grand stories. It is equivalent to the English idiom 'to make a mountain out of a molehill'.
నోరు ఉంటే ఊరు ఉంటుంది
noru unte uru untundi
If you have a mouth, you have a village.
This proverb emphasizes that if one has effective communication skills or the ability to speak up, they can survive and thrive anywhere. It highlights that being vocal and persuasive helps a person find support, resources, and a place in society.
నోరంతా పళ్ళు, ఊరంతా అప్పులు
noranta pallu, uranta appulu
A mouth full of teeth, a town full of debts.
This proverb is used to describe someone who smiles or talks excessively to hide their financial troubles, or someone who maintains an outward appearance of cheerfulness despite being heavily indebted to many people in the community.
అంతా కంత
anta kanta
All of it is just a hole/gap
This expression is used to describe a situation where there is a total loss, or when something is completely hollow, empty, or useless despite appearances. It implies that everything has gone down the drain or that the entirety of a matter results in nothingness.
ఉల్లి చేసిన మేలు తల్లి కూడా చేయదు
ulli chesina melu talli kuda cheyadu
The benefit provided by an onion cannot be provided even by a mother.
This popular proverb highlights the immense medicinal and nutritional value of onions. It suggests that while a mother is the ultimate caregiver, the health benefits of eating onions are so unique and vital that they are incomparable. It is used to encourage the inclusion of onions in one's diet for better health.
గోరంతను కొండంత చేయటం
gorantanu kondanta cheyatam
Making a fingernail-sized thing into a mountain-sized one.
This expression is used to describe the act of exaggerating a small issue or a minor event into something much larger than it actually is. It is equivalent to the English idiom 'making a mountain out of a molehill'.
ఎంత చెట్టుకు అంత గాలి
enta chettuku anta gali
As big as the tree is, so much is the wind.
This proverb suggests that responsibilities, problems, or rewards are proportional to one's stature, status, or capacity. For example, a larger business faces bigger risks, or a person with a high income has higher expenses.
పుండంత మానింది చేటంత ఉంది
pundanta manindi chetanta undi
The wound has healed to the extent of an atom, but remains as large as a winnowing basket.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a problem or an ailment has ostensibly 'healed' or been resolved, yet the remaining mark, consequence, or side-effect is still massive and problematic. It highlights cases where the solution hasn't truly diminished the overall burden or visibility of the issue.
గోరంత ఉంటే కొండంత చేస్తాడు
goranta unte kondanta chestadu
If it is as small as a fingernail, he makes it as big as a mountain.
This expression is used to describe a person who has a habit of exaggerating things or blowing small issues out of proportion. It is similar to the English idiom 'to make a mountain out of a molehill'.
ఉల్లిపాయంత బలిజవుంటే, వూరంతా చెరుస్తాడు
ullipayanta balijavunte, vuranta cherustadu
If there be a Balija man as small as a clove of garlick, he will ruin the whole village.
This proverb is used to describe a person who, despite having very little actual power or capability (like the size of an onion), causes significant trouble, mischief, or destruction to everyone around them.
Balija is a caste among Telugu and Canarese Sûdras. One scabbed sheep will mar a whole flock. One ill weed mars a whole pot of pottage. * Asno de muchos, lobca le comen. † Il cherche son âne et il est monté dossus.