ఆడకాడక సమర్హాడితే, చాకలోడు కోక ఎత్తుకొని పోయినాడట.

adakadaka samarhadite, chakalodu koka ettukoni poyinadata.

Translation

When one finally chose a time to play after a long wait, the washerman reportedly ran away with the clothes.

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where a person faces an unexpected hurdle or bad luck the one time they finally decide to do something or celebrate. It is used when a rare opportunity is ruined by an unfortunate coincidence.

Related Phrases

When he went for salvation, an alligator carried him off. He was bathing in holy water for the attainment of eternal beatitude. య.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone sets out with a noble or high intention, but encounters an unexpected and disastrous setback. It highlights how bad luck or unforeseen obstacles can ruin even the most virtuous pursuits.

Like a nut in the nippers. Adakattu are nippers used for breaking Areca nuts. To be between the hammer and the anvil. (Franch.)

This expression is used to describe a person who is stuck in a difficult or tight situation, caught between two opposing forces with no way to escape. It is similar to the English idiom 'Between a rock and a hard place.'

Seeing the house, the cat attained puberty (reached maturity).

This proverb is used to describe someone who becomes arrogant or starts demanding more importance after seeing the wealth or prosperity of the place they have entered. It reflects a situation where a person's attitude changes based on the luxury or opportunities available to them.

He left without telling the fruit or the bed.

This expression is used to describe someone who leaves a place very suddenly, secretly, or without informing anyone. It implies a quiet or abrupt departure where no one was given notice.

Like carrying a cat under the arm while going to a wedding

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone brings along an unnecessary burden or an unlucky distraction that ruins an important or auspicious occasion. It highlights the foolishness of creating complications for oneself when things should be simple and celebratory.

Snail's pace

This expression is used to describe something that is moving or progressing extremely slowly. It is commonly used to criticize slow administrative processes, delayed projects, or people who are taking too long to complete a task.

[ The host said ] " Boil, boil away, O food, until new year's day!" [ the guest added ] "My business will not take me away until the ploughing-season."

This proverb is used to describe extremely lazy individuals who are content to waste time or remain idle for long periods. It mocks someone who, when asked to do a long or tedious task, sarcastically suggests they can do it even longer because they have no intention of doing any other productive work.

During the Pongal feast in January a stingy man tried by a broad hint to avoid giving a visitor food, but the latter was not to be done out of his dinner. The Telugu New year's day falls in April, and cultivation commences in July. Eat and welcome ; fast and heartily welcome. Let the guest go before the storm bursts. (German.)*

While everything was already present, the teacher's wife reached puberty.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone adds an unnecessary or poorly timed burden to an already chaotic or difficult situation. It refers to a person who creates extra trouble or demands attention for something insignificant (or poorly timed) when there are already plenty of other problems to deal with.

If it were a gold medal, couldn't I sell it?

This expression is used sarcastically to retort when someone asks a redundant or silly question about an obvious situation, or when someone expects one to value something that is actually useless or a burden. It implies that if the object or situation in question actually had any value (like a gold medal), the speaker would have already benefited from it.

While the man was sluggishly ploughing, thieves stole the rope collars.

This proverb describes a situation where starting a task with a negative attitude, lack of enthusiasm, or a heavy heart leads to further misfortune or failure. It implies that if you don't put your heart into your work, even the basic tools or opportunities will be lost, or the outcome will be naturally jinxed.