వెయ్యి కాకులకి ఒకటే రాయి
veyyi kakulaki okate rayi
One stone is enough for a thousand crows.
This expression means that a single powerful solution or a single strong person is enough to handle a large number of weak or noisy opponents. It is used to suggest that quality or strength prevails over sheer quantity.
Related Phrases
చిక్కుల గుర్రానికి కక్కుల కళ్లెము
chikkula gurraniki kakkula kallemu
A serrated bit for a troublesome horse.
This proverb suggests that difficult or stubborn problems require harsh or specialized solutions. Just as a horse that is hard to control needs a sharper, more painful bit (kakkula kallemu) to be tamed, a person with a difficult temperament or a complex situation needs an equally firm or tough approach to be managed.
నూరు కాకులలో ఒక కోకిల
nuru kakulalo oka kokila
One cuckoo among a hundred crows
This expression is used to describe a person who stands out due to their unique talent, beauty, or virtue in a group of ordinary or inferior people. It highlights excellence amidst mediocrity.
తెలకులవాడి ముడ్డికింది రాయివలె
telakulavadi muddikindi rayivale
Like the oilmonger's stone seat. Of permanent utility.
This expression is used to describe someone or something that stays in one place for a very long time or is constant and unchanging. Historically, oil-pressers (Telakula) sat on a heavy, fixed stone while operating the manual oil press; therefore, the phrase refers to an object or person that remains stuck or permanent in a specific position regardless of external changes.
కుక్క వస్తే రాయి దొరకదు, రాయి దొరికితే కుక్క రాదు.
kukka vaste rayi dorakadu, rayi dorikite kukka radu.
When the dog comes, a stone cannot be found ; when a stone is found, the dog does not come. A thing can never be found when it is most wanted.
This expression describes a situation of poor timing or irony where two things needed for a specific action are never available at the same time. It is used when resources or opportunities are missing exactly when they are most needed, but appear only when the need has passed.
ఏనుగు బ్రతికినా వెయ్యి, చచ్చినా వెయ్యి
enugu bratikina veyyi, chachchina veyyi
An elephant is worth a thousand when alive, and worth a thousand even when dead.
This expression is used to describe someone or something of immense value, status, or reputation that remains significant regardless of their current state or circumstances. Just as an elephant provides labor while alive and valuable ivory/hides after death, a great person's legacy or a high-quality asset continues to command respect and value even after its prime.
రానివాడి మీద రాయి.
ranivadi mida rayi.
A stone on him who won't come! An imprecation used with reference to a man who refuses an invitation.
This expression is used to describe an attempt or a guess made when there is nothing to lose. It implies taking a chance or a 'shot in the dark' where if it succeeds, it's a gain, and if it fails, there is no loss since the outcome was already uncertain or unlikely.
వెర్రి వెయ్యి విధాలు
verri veyyi vidhalu
Madness takes a thousand forms.
Each person has his/her own types of odd behavior and thinks that that behavior quite normal. Honest criticism by well-meaning friends can help people in realizing the truth about themselves and take appropriate corrective measures.
లోకులు కాకులు
lokulu kakulu
People are like crows
This expression is used to convey that people will always find something to gossip about or criticize, regardless of what one does. Just as crows caw incessantly, society often engages in relentless talk or judgment. It is used to advise someone to ignore public opinion or gossip.
కాకుల మధ్య కోకిల
kakula madhya kokila
A cuckoo among crows
This expression refers to someone who stands out as superior, talented, or graceful while surrounded by ordinary or inferior people. It is used to describe a person of quality in an environment where others lack that same refinement or skill.
కంకణాల చెయ్యి ఆడితే, కడియాల చెయ్యి ఆడును.
kankanala cheyyi adite, kadiyala cheyyi adunu.
If the hand with Kankaṇamulu moves, the hand with Kaḍiyamulu moves also. Kankaṇamulu are bracelets worn by women. Kaḍiyamulu are those worn by men. Where woman leads man follows.
This proverb highlights the interdependency within a household or society. 'Hand with bangles' refers to the woman (traditionally managing the kitchen/home), and 'hand with bracelets' refers to the man (traditionally the earner). It means that when the woman works to cook and manage the house, the man can eat and have the strength to work, or more broadly, that domestic stability is the foundation for external success.