వెర్రి కుక్కను బట్టి వేటాడవచ్చునా?
verri kukkanu batti vetadavachchuna?
Can you go hunting by catching a mad dog?
This proverb is used to illustrate that you cannot achieve a successful or noble outcome by relying on incompetent, unreliable, or unstable people. Just as a rabid or mad dog is unpredictable and cannot be trained for the discipline of hunting, an unfit person cannot be trusted to perform a specific task effectively.
Related Phrases
అంగడిని బట్టి గొడ్డు, వంగడమును బట్టి బిడ్డ
angadini batti goddu, vangadamunu batti bidda
The cattle is judged by the market, the child is judged by the lineage.
This proverb emphasizes the influence of heredity and upbringing. Just as the quality of livestock is determined by where it is bought (the market's reputation), a child's character and behavior are often a reflection of their family's traits, values, and ancestry (Vangadam).
కుక్క తోక పట్టుకుని గోదావరి ఈదవచ్చునా?
kukka toka pattukuni godavari idavachchuna?
Can one cross the Godavari river by holding onto a dog's tail?
This proverb highlights the folly of relying on weak or incompetent means to achieve a monumental or difficult task. Just as a dog is not strong enough to pull a human across a vast river, choosing the wrong person or tool for a major responsibility will inevitably lead to failure.
వ్యాధి వచ్చినవాడు వెట్టి పట్టినవాడు ఒకటి.
vyadhi vachchinavadu vetti pattinavadu okati.
One who is diseased and one who is forced into labor are the same.
This proverb highlights that a person suffering from a disease and a person forced into unpaid manual labor (vetti) share a similar plight—both lose their freedom of will and are under a constant state of suffering or compulsion. It is used to describe situations where a person has no choice but to endure hardship.
చెట్టును బట్టి కాయ - చేనును బట్టి పంట.
chettunu batti kaya - chenunu batti panta.
The fruit depends on the tree - the harvest depends on the field.
This proverb is used to explain that the quality of an outcome or offspring depends on its origin or upbringing. Similar to 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree,' it suggests that results are proportional to the source's nature or the effort invested in the foundation.
తల్లిని బట్టి పిల్ల, విత్తును బట్టి పంట.
tallini batti pilla, vittunu batti panta.
Like mother, like daughter; like seed, like crop.
This proverb emphasizes that character, behavior, and quality are inherited or influenced by origins. Just as the quality of a harvest depends on the quality of the seed sown, a child's traits and upbringing are often a reflection of the mother or the family environment. It is used to describe how someone's nature is a result of their roots.
తిన్న కుక్క తిని పోతే, కన్న కుక్కను పట్టి కాళ్లు విరగకొట్టినట్టు
tinna kukka tini pote, kanna kukkanu patti kallu viragakottinattu
When the dog which had eaten [ the food ] ran off, he caught hold of another dog and broke its leg. Making the innocent suffer for the guilty.
This proverb describes a situation where the actual culprit escapes, and an innocent person who happens to be nearby is punished for the crime. It is used to highlight injustice or a lapse in judgement where the wrong person is held accountable for someone else's mistake.
చెట్టును బట్టి కాయ
chettunu batti kaya
The fruit depends on the tree
Like father, like son; or the quality of a product depends on its source. It is used to suggest that the nature or character of a person or thing is determined by its origin or upbringing.
వేషగాని అడుగులు వేటలో పనికివచ్చునా?
veshagani adugulu vetalo panikivachchuna?
Will the steps of a costume-wearer/actor be of any use in a real hunt?
This proverb is used to convey that superficial appearances or mere imitation of a skill (like acting) cannot replace genuine expertise and practical experience required for real-life challenges. Just because someone looks like a hunter or mimics the walk of one, they cannot succeed in a real hunt without the actual survival skills.
వెట్టి గొట్టి, తంగెడు పట్టి.
vetti gotti, tangedu patti.
Striking a bond-laborer and holding a Tangedu (Tanner's Cassia) branch.
This proverb refers to a situation where one person unfairly exerts power over a helpless person. It is used to describe someone who takes advantage of their authority or position to harass or exploit those who cannot resist or defend themselves.
కుక్క తోక పట్టుకుని గోదావరి ఈదవచ్చునా?
kukka toka pattukuni godavari idavachchuna?
Could you swim over the Gôdâvari, by catching hold of a dog's tail? Reliance upon mean persons for great things. Trust not to a broken staff.
This proverb describes a situation where someone relies on a weak or unreliable person/method to achieve a massive task. Just as a dog is not a strong enough swimmer to pull a human across a vast river like the Godavari, choosing an incompetent mentor or a flawed strategy will lead to certain failure.