వగచినట్టూ ఉండవలె వాత పెట్టినట్టూ ఉండవలె

vagachinattu undavale vata pettinattu undavale

Translation

It should look like grieving while also applying a branding iron.

Meaning

This proverb describes a hypocritical or clever action where someone pretends to sympathize with a person while simultaneously causing them harm or delivering a harsh punishment. It is used to describe situations where a person acts out of self-interest or discipline under the guise of concern.

Related Phrases

Coming like a mountain and ending up like a piece of cork.

This expression describes a situation or problem that initially appeared massive, daunting, or overwhelming (like a mountain) but turned out to be insignificant, trivial, or easily resolved (like light cork) in the end. It is often used to describe anticlimactic events or when a big threat fizzles out into nothing.

It must be with the goldsmith, or in the chafing-dish. Said of gold made away with by a swindling goldsmith.

This proverb is used to describe things or situations that have no middle ground or compromise. It refers to gold, which must either be in the hands of the goldsmith to be shaped or in the furnace (brazier) to be purified. It implies that a person or a task should either be completely involved in the process or undergoing transformation, leaving no room for being idle or halfway done.

If one tells a lie, it should be like building a wall.

This expression suggests that if someone chooses to lie, the lie must be so consistent, firm, and well-constructed that it leaves no gaps for doubt, much like a solid wall. It is often used to comment on someone's deceptive skills or to point out that a lie must be convincing to be successful.

If there is water, there must be seedlings.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of timing and preparedness in agriculture and life. Just as having water is useless for farming without seedlings ready to plant, having resources is ineffective if you aren't prepared to utilize them. It is used to suggest that one should be ready to act when the right conditions or opportunities arise.

One must be threshing, and the master must be cheated. Said by a dishonest servant.

This expression describes a deceptive or hypocritical way of working where one pretends to put in effort (maintenance) while secretly ensuring the outcome is poor or the resources are drained. It is used to mock people who act like they are helping or working hard, but their actions actually lead to failure or loss for the owner/employer.

A field must have a bund, and a village must have discipline.

Just as a field requires a boundary (bund) to retain water and prevent soil erosion, a community or village needs a set of rules, unity, and discipline to function effectively and protect its members. It emphasizes the importance of boundaries and regulations for order and prosperity.

The food in the pot should remain as it is, and the children should remain like logs.

This expression is used to describe an impossible or highly selfish desire where someone wants to enjoy the benefits of something without any of the associated costs or natural consequences. In this context, it refers to wanting children to be healthy and grow (like sturdy logs) while simultaneously wishing that they never consume the food in the house. It highlights a paradoxical or stingy mindset.

If you do tell a lie, let it be like a wall.

This proverb suggests that if one must lie, the lie should be consistent, firm, and believable, much like a solid wall. It is used to point out that a person's deception should at least be logically sound or well-constructed to be effective, or to criticize someone whose lies are easily seen through due to inconsistency.

Pretend to condole when you cauterize.

This proverb describes a situation where someone pretends to be sympathetic or helpful while actually causing harm or dealing a severe blow. It is used to describe a calculated action that appears kind on the surface but is intended to teach a painful lesson or inflict damage, or to describe someone who acts with duplicity.

While having a house, should one eat in a temporary shelter?

This proverb suggests that one should utilize their own resources and comforts rather than opting for inferior or inconvenient alternatives. It is used to question why someone would choose a difficult or unnecessary path when they already have a settled and comfortable option available.