Common Kannada proverbs and figurative idioms with their meanings explained, for an upper-level learner. Front: the Kannada idiom. Back: English meaning and usage note.
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- ಕೈ ಕೆಸರಾದರೆ ಬಾಯಿ ಮೊಸರು (kai kesaraadare baayi mosaru)
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If the hand gets muddy, the mouth gets curd. Meaning: hard work brings its reward, no pain no gain.- ಹಾಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಳಿ ಹಿಂಡಿದಂತೆ (haalinalli huli hindidante)
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Like squeezing sour lime into milk. Meaning: spoiling something good, acting as a spoilsport.- ಆರಂಭಶೂರತ್ವ (aarambhashooratva)
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Valor only at the start. Meaning: someone who begins a task with great enthusiasm but never finishes it.- ಕೂಸು ಹುಟ್ಟುವ ಮೊದಲೇ ಕುಲಾವಿ ಹೊಲಿಸಿದಂತೆ (koosu huttuva modale kulaavi holisidante)
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Like stitching a baby's cap before it is born. Meaning: counting your chickens before they hatch.- ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಗೆ ಹಿಟ್ಟಿಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೂ ಜುಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಹೂವು (hottege hittilladiddaroo juttige mallige hoovu)
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No flour for the stomach, yet jasmine flowers for the topknot. Meaning: living beyond one's means, style over substance.- ಮನೆ ಕಟ್ಟಿ ನೋಡು, ಮದುವೆ ಮಾಡಿ ನೋಡು (mane katti nodu, maduve maadi nodu)
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Try building a house, try arranging a wedding. Meaning: you only understand something's difficulty by experiencing it yourself.- ಅತಿಯಾದರೆ ಅಮೃತವೂ ವಿಷ (atiyaadare amritavoo visha)
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Even nectar becomes poison in excess. Meaning: too much of anything is harmful.- ಹತ್ತು ಜನರು ಹೇಳಿದ್ದೇ ಹಾಡು (hattu janaru helidde haadu)
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What ten people say becomes the song. Meaning: public opinion tends to be accepted as truth.- ಕುಂಬಳಕಾಯಿ ಕಳ್ಳ ಎಂದರೆ ಹೆಗಲು ಮುಟ್ಟಿ ನೋಡಿಕೊಂಡ (kumbalakaayi kalla endare hegalu mutti nodikonda)
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When called a pumpkin thief, he felt his own shoulder. Meaning: a guilty conscience gives itself away.- ಆಪತ್ತಿಗಾದವನೇ ನೆಂಟ (aapattigaadavane nenta)
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The one who helps in a crisis is the true relative. Meaning: a friend in need is a friend indeed.- ಎತ್ತಿಗೆ ಜ್ವರ ಬಂದರೆ ಎಮ್ಮೆಗೆ ಬರೆ ಎಳೆದಂತೆ (ettige jvara bandare emmege bare eledante)
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Branding the buffalo when the ox has the fever. Meaning: blaming or treating the wrong person.- ಹೊಳೆಯುವುದೆಲ್ಲಾ ಚಿನ್ನವಲ್ಲ (holeyuvudellaa chinnavalla)
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All that glitters is not gold. Meaning: appearances can be deceiving.- ಆಳಾಗಬಲ್ಲವನೇ ಅರಸನಾಗಬಲ್ಲ (aalaagaballavane arasanaagaballa)
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Only one who can serve as a servant can become a king. Meaning: a good leader first learns to serve others.- ಬೆಕ್ಕಿಗೆ ಚೆಲ್ಲಾಟ, ಇಲಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಾಣಸಂಕಟ (bekkige chellaata, ilige praanasankata)
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Play for the cat, a life-and-death struggle for the mouse. Meaning: one person's fun can be another's suffering.- ಮಳೆ ಬಂದರೂ ಕೊಡೆ, ಬಿಸಿಲು ಬಂದರೂ ಕೊಡೆ (male bandaroo kode, bisilu bandaroo kode)
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An umbrella whether it rains or shines. Meaning: staying prepared for any circumstance.
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