ProverbPedia

“Telugu Proverb:
దయ్యము కొట్టనూ బిడ్డ బ్రతకనా”
— English Translation:
When the devil attacks will the child live ?Said of a meddling fool.

“Telugu Proverb:
దండమయ్యా బాపనయ్యా అంటే, మీ తండ్రి నాటి పాత బాకీ యిచ్చి పొమ్మనాడట.When the Śûdra saluted the Brahman, the latter in return asked him to pay an old debt due by his father.Rudeness in return for civility.",”
— ,

“Telugu Proverb:
దయ్యముల ముందర బిడ్డ బ్రతుకునా”
— English Translation:
Could a child live in front of devils?

“”
— English Translation:
The woman who couldn’t pound, put water into the condiments.She was too lazy to pound the condiments and therefore purposely spoilt them.

“Telugu Proverb:
దరిద్రుడు తల కడగబోతే, వడిగండ్ల వాన వెంబడే వచ్చినది”
— English Translation:
When the poor man was about to anoint his head, it began to hail.Difficulties always attend an unfortunate person.He who is born to misfortune stumbles as he goes, and though he fall on his back will fracture his nose. (German.)

“Telugu Proverb:
తొత్తుకు శివము యెత్తితే మొక్కక తీరునా”
— English Translation:
If a slut be inspired by the Deity, can one escape saluting her ?Respect must be paid to those in power, however low their origin.

“Telugu Proverb:
తోక దొక్కిన పాములాగున లేచినాడు”
— English Translation:
He sprang up like a serpent when its tail is trodden on.Applied to a sudden burst of anger in any one on his evil ways being exposed.

“”
— English Translation:
When the scorpion was given power, it continued stinging until the morning.Applied to the abuse of authority by evil persons.

“Telugu Proverb:
తేలుకు యెవరు అపకారము చేశినారు”
— English Translation:
Who did evil to the scorpion ?Thoroughly bad by nature injuring others without provocation.

“Telugu Proverb:
తేళ్లల్లో కొండి, పాములలో పడిగ”
— English Translation:
The sting among the scorpions, the hood among the snakes.The worst among the bad.

“Telugu Proverb:
తొంగున్న సుంకరీ తలమూట దింపు అన్నట్టు”
— English Translation:
Like a man waking up the sleeping custom house ofiicer to help him to put down his load.A “green trick.”

“Telugu Proverb:
తొండ ముదిరి వూసరవిల్లి అయినట్టు”
— English Translation:
The Tonda grew old, and hecarne an Usaravilli.Tonds is a bloodsucker (chameleon) which when old is called ûsaravilli.Vice growing with age.

“Telugu Proverb:
తొండకు వెలుగు సాక్షి”
— English Translation:
The bear is witness for the bloodsucker orThe hedge is witness for the bloodsucker.According to the first interpretation, a band of Mahomedan freebooters, when seeking on one occasion to discover treasure which had been buried by the inhabitants of a plundered village, having perceived first a chameleon nodding on certain spots and afterwards a bear sniffing in the same places, spent much labour in digging up the earth, but all in vain.—-The application is that natural habits are not to be taken notice of.According to others, the hedge where the chameleon lives should be questioned as to the latter’s veracity and character,—-the application being that the evidence of one man should be corroborated by that of another.Ask my chum if I am a thief. (Italian)

“Telugu Proverb:
తెడ్డు వుండగా చెయ్యి కాల్చుకొన్నట్టు”
— English Translation:
Burning his hand when he had a ladle.To stir the rice with.

“Telugu Proverb:
తొంభై తొమ్మండ్రుగురు పోగయి తోలు చిరగ పొడిచినారు”
— English Translation:
Ninety-nine persons joined together [attacked a man, but only] succeeded in scratching his skin.A cowardly mob.26

“Telugu Proverb:
తెలకుల వాడి ముడ్డికింది రాయివలెనే”
— English Translation:
Like the oilmonger’s stone seat.Of permanent utility.