వేరు తవ్వి వేణ్నీళ్లు పోసినట్టు

veru tavvi vennillu posinattu

Translation

To dig out the roots and pour in hot water. To ruin a man utterly.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe an action that is intended to destroy something completely from its foundation or to harm someone under the guise of helping. Just as pouring hot water on a dug-up root ensures the plant will never grow back, this refers to absolute destruction or irreversible damage.

Related Phrases

Can your house be burnt down with hot water?

This proverb is used to imply that small or insignificant actions cannot cause major damage, or that mild threats/anger cannot destroy strong foundations. It suggests that just because water is hot, it doesn't possess the destructive power of fire.

Applied to lenient or ineffective measures.

Like adding cold water to hot water

This expression is used to describe a situation where a small amount of help or contribution is added to a larger effort. It signifies how even a minor assistance can complement or complete a task, much like how cold water helps bring boiling water to a usable temperature.

Cold water to hot water, hot water to cold water. The beneficial union of different dispositions.

This expression is used to describe mutual assistance or small contributions that complement each other. Just as mixing hot and cold water brings them to a comfortable temperature, it signifies how people help one another according to their capacity, or how small favors are returned to maintain balance in relationships.

It is like digging up a mountain to catch a mouse.

A fruitless endeavor considering what is obtained by the effort. Sometimes, one makes herculean efforts but achieves precious little.

Feeding a snake with milk.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone helps or shows kindness to a wicked or ungrateful person, who in turn ends up harming the benefactor. It highlights the futility and danger of nurturing someone with an inherently malicious nature.

Showing kindness to an ungrateful person.

Like digging a well while the house is on fire

This proverb describes the foolishness of starting preparations or seeking a solution only when a disaster has already struck. It highlights a lack of foresight and the futility of reactive measures that are too late to be effective.

Digging up a mountain to catch a rat.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a massive amount of effort, time, or resources is spent to achieve a very small, insignificant, or disappointing result. It highlights the disproportion between the struggle and the outcome.

Like making porridge of dust. Labour wasted in a hopeless scheme.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone puts in a lot of effort or goes through a process, but the final result is completely ruined or made useless by a foolish mistake or poor quality ingredients. It signifies wasted effort resulting in something unpalatable or unsuccessful.

Like pouring spindles into a corn measure. A noiseless operation.

This expression is used to describe an extremely noisy, chaotic, or restless situation. Just as putting metal spindles into a measuring vessel causes them to rattle and create constant noise/movement, it refers to people or things that cannot stay still or quiet.

The woman who couldn't pound, put water into the condi- ments. She was too lazy to pound the condiments and therefore purposely spoilt them.

This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks the skill or knowledge to perform a task but still attempts it, only to end up ruining it completely. It highlights incompetence or a lack of basic common sense in a specific situation.