యజ్ఞం చేసి రంకు తెలుపుకొన్నట్లు
yajnyam chesi ranku telupukonnatlu
Like performing a sacred ritual only to reveal one's adultery.
This proverb describes a situation where someone performs a grand, virtuous, or public act, but in the process, accidentally exposes their own hidden flaws, wrongdoings, or secrets. It is used when a person's attempt to gain fame or merit backfires by bringing their scandals to light.
Related Phrases
దొంగకు తేలు కుట్టినట్లు
dongaku telu kuttinatlu
Like a thief, stung by a scorpion.
This refers to some criminal who cannot even complain. If a person is doing something criminal, he cannot complain against a natural problem/discomfort he has to face. The moral is that it is better not to commit blunders one may find it difficult to get out of them.
వక్క కోసం ఒక్క పొద్దు చెడుపుకున్నట్లు
vakka kosam okka poddu chedupukunnatlu
Like ruining a whole day's fast for a single betel nut.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone loses a great benefit or ruins a major effort for the sake of a very trivial or insignificant thing. It highlights the lack of foresight and the foolishness of compromising a larger goal for a small temptation.
చేయిచేసుకోనా, చేతులు దులుపుకోనా?
cheyichesukona, chetulu dulupukona?
Should I use my hand (strike you), or should I wash my hands of you?
This expression is used when someone is extremely frustrated or angry with another person's behavior. It presents a dilemma: whether to physically retaliate/punish them ('చేయిచేసుకోవడం') or to simply give up on them and cut ties completely ('చేతులు దులుపుకోవడం'). It signifies a breaking point in a relationship or a situation where the other person's actions are no longer tolerable.
అత్తసొమ్ము అల్లుడు దానం చేసినట్లు
attasommu alludu danam chesinatlu
Like a son-in-law donating his mother-in-law's property.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is being generous or charitable with someone else's resources or money rather than their own. It highlights the hypocrisy of taking credit for a sacrifice that doesn't actually cost the giver anything.
ఏనుగునెక్కి రంకుకుపోయినట్లు
enugunekki rankukupoyinatlu
Like riding an elephant to commit adultery.
This proverb is used to describe a person who tries to perform a shameful or clandestine act in a way that is highly visible and attracts everyone's attention. It refers to a situation where someone lacks the common sense to be discreet about their wrongdoings, making their actions impossible to ignore.
కాకి తెలుపు తోలు తెలుపు ఎక్కడన్నా ఉందా?
kaki telupu tolu telupu ekkadanna unda?
Is a crow white or is leather white anywhere?
This expression is used to highlight an impossible or unnatural situation. Just as a crow can never be white and leather is inherently dark, certain truths or character traits cannot be changed no matter how much one tries to pretend otherwise.
పుట్టిన ఇన్నాళ్లకు పురుషుడు యజ్ఞం చేశాడు
puttina innallaku purushudu yajnyam cheshadu
After living for so many years the man performed a sacrifice. Good luck comes at last. Fortune knocks once at least at every man's gate. Fortune is like the market, where if you bide your time, the price will fall.
This expression is used sarcastically to describe someone who has finally completed a task or achieved something after an incredibly long delay or a lifetime of procrastination. It highlights that the action, while positive, took an unnecessarily long time to occur.
పన్నెండు ఆమడల మధ్య బ్రాహ్మణుడు లేకపోతే యజ్ఞం చేయిస్తానన్నాడట.
pannendu amadala madhya brahmanudu lekapote yajnyam cheyistanannadata.
He said he would perform the ritual if no priest was found within twelve miles.
This proverb is used to describe a person who makes grand promises or offers help only under impossible or highly unlikely conditions. It highlights insincerity and the tendency to set unreachable criteria just to escape responsibility while appearing generous.
ఊళ్ళోవాళ్ళకు పనిచేసి ఒళ్ళంతా దుమ్ము చేసుకొన్నట్లు
ullovallaku panichesi ollanta dummu chesukonnatlu
Like working for the villagers and getting one's whole body covered in dust.
This expression refers to performing thankless labor that benefits others while resulting in personal exhaustion or hardship for oneself. It describes a situation where a person works hard for the sake of the community or others, only to end up with nothing but physical strain or a mess to clean up, without any real reward or appreciation.
యజ్ఞానికి ముందేమిటంటే, తలక్షవరం అన్నట్లు.
yajnyaniki mundemitante, talakshavaram annatlu.
Like saying a head shave comes before the sacrificial ritual.
This proverb describes a situation where a minor, trivial, or sometimes unpleasant task is prioritized or highlighted over the grander, more significant event. It is used to mock someone who focuses on the trivialities or the preliminary hardships rather than the actual importance of a major undertaking.