10 Common Telugu Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
Telugu, one of the most expressive languages in India, has a wealth of idioms that pack complex ideas into just a few words. There is practically no resource for idioms in Telugu or any South Asian language, so this list can serve as a reference. Here are ten idioms that are particularly evocative and useful to know.
కొంపముంచు
Meaning: To cause alarm, agitation, or anxious apprehension; to throw someone into a state of worry or unrest.
For example, sudden news about a friend’s accident could కొంపముంచు anyone.
కనువిప్పు
Meaning: An eye-opener or awakening; an event, teaching, or experience that suddenly makes someone aware or enlightened.
A trip to a different culture can often be a కనువిప్పు that changes your perspective.
గంగాకావేరీపర్యంతం
Meaning: Across a wide area or throughout the land; from one extreme to another.
The festival celebrations spread గంగాకావేరీపర్యంతం, touching every village and town.
ఎదురుచూచు
Meaning: To wait for or await an event, decision, or person; to expect something to occur. Or to be waiting in excitement.
Students ఎదురుచూచు the results of their exams with bated breath.
ఒక చెవితో విని మరో చెవితో వదిలెయ్యడం
Meaning: To ignore, forget, or pay no attention to advice, information, or warnings after hearing them.
Children often ఒక చెవితో విని మరో చెవితో వదిలెయ్యడం what their parents tell them.
చేతులెత్తు
Meaning: To surrender or give up resisting; to yield.
After a long argument, he finally చేతులెత్తు and admitted he was wrong.
తోకకోయు
Meaning: To deprive someone of a distinguishing advantage, pride, or resource; to humble, strip of power, or decisively defeat someone.
The decisive victory in the competition completely తోకకోయు the reigning champions.
రెక్కలువిరిగిన పక్షి
Meaning: A person who is incapacitated, powerless, defeated, or unable to act effectively; someone stripped of freedom or strength.
After losing his business, he felt like a రెక్కలువిరిగిన పక్షి.
రెక్కలువచ్చు
Meaning: To gain the ability, freedom, or means to act independently or to succeed; to take off or become empowered.
With the new scholarship, she finally రెక్కలువచ్చు and pursued her dreams freely.
మేక వన్నె పులి
Meaning: A person who appears or pretends to be fierce, powerful, or impressive but is actually timid, weak, or harmless.
He boasted about his skills, but everyone knew he was a మేక వన్నె పులి.
Telugu idioms give language its color and depth. Learning them can make your understanding of the language—and the culture—richer and more nuanced.