Common Telugu proverbs and figurative idioms with their meanings explained, for an upper-level learner. Front: the Telugu idiom. Back: English meaning and usage note.
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- అందని ద్రాక్ష పుల్ల (andani draaksha pulla)
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The grapes one cannot reach are sour: dismissing something as undesirable only because it is unattainable- కుక్క తోక వంకర (kukka thoka vankara)
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A dog's tail is always crooked: some flaws in a person's nature simply cannot be straightened- ఊరికి ఉపకారం చేస్తే ఉలిపిరికట్టెతో కొట్టినట్టు (ooriki upakaaram chesthe uliparikattetho kottinattu)
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Do a favor for the town and be beaten with a thorny stick: good deeds are sometimes repaid with ingratitude- గోరు చుట్టు మీద రోకటి పోటు (goru chuttu meeda rokati potu)
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Striking a pestle blow on top of a sore finger: adding a much larger harm on top of an already small injury- అతి సర్వత్ర వర్జయేత్ (athi sarvatra varjayeth)
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Excess of anything should always be avoided: moderation in all things is wise- చేతులు కాలాక ఆకులు పట్టుకున్నట్టు (chethulu kaalaaka aakulu pattukunnattu)
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Grabbing leaves only after the hands have already burned: taking precautions only after the damage is already done- ఏనుగు వెళ్ళిపోయాక తోక పట్టుకున్నట్టు (enugu vellipoyaaka thoka pattukunnattu)
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Grabbing the tail after the elephant has already left: acting too late to achieve anything meaningful- కంచే చేను మేసినట్టు (kanche chenu mesinattu)
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As if the fence itself grazed the field: harm caused by the very person or thing meant to protect something- అడ్డాకు దూరం బెడ్డకు దగ్గర (addaaku dooram beddaku daggara)
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Far from the leaf-plate but close to the pit: staying away from work but always near the reward- కోతికి కొబ్బరికాయ దొరికినట్టు (kothiki kobbarikaaya dorikinattu)
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Like a monkey finding a coconut: someone given something valuable they don't know how to use- మీగడ తరిగినట్టు (meegada tariginattu)
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As smooth as slicing through cream: something accomplished with great ease- చెవిటివాడి ముందు శంఖం ఊదినట్టు (chevitivaadi mundu shankham oodinattu)
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Blowing a conch shell in front of a deaf man: wasted effort trying to communicate with someone who won't listen- ఇంట గెలిచి రచ్చ గెలవాలి (inta gelichi rachcha gelavaali)
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One must win at home before winning in public: harmony and order at home are the foundation of success outside- చిలుక పలుకులు (chiluka palukulu)
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Parrot's words: speech that merely repeats what has been said without real understanding- అరటిపండు వొలిచి చేతిలో పెట్టినట్టు (aratipandu volichi chethilo pettinattu)
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Like peeling a banana and placing it in one's hand: making something extremely easy for someone
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