ఆడలేక మద్దెల ఓడు అన్నట్లు
adaleka maddela odu annatlu
Like a dancer who says the drum is bad because she cannot dance.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks skill or makes a mistake, but blames their tools, environment, or others instead of admitting their own incompetence. It is equivalent to the English proverb 'A bad workman always blames his tools.'
Related Phrases
అగ్నిలో మిడత పడ్డట్టు
agnilo midata paddattu
Like a grass-hopper jumping into the fire (flame).
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone blindly or foolishly rushes into a danger that will lead to their certain destruction. It signifies an act of self-destruction or a fatal attraction to something harmful.
To try, they say, to extinguish it. Applied to rash acts. * Catula dominas imitantes.
అద్దము మీద పెసరగింజ పడ్డట్టు
addamu mida pesaraginja paddattu
Like a Pesara seed on a looking glass. Used with reference to a remark aimed at a particular person, but con- veyed in such general terms that he is unable to take notice of it. He said devil, but meant you. (Dutch.)
This expression describes something that is extremely unstable or short-lived. Just as a small, round green gram seed cannot stay still on a smooth, slippery surface like a mirror and slides off immediately, this phrase is used to refer to people who don't stick to their word, or situations that are highly precarious and transient.
గుడి వచ్చి మీద పడ్డట్టు
gudi vachchi mida paddattu
Like a temple coming and falling on you.
This expression is used to describe a situation where an unexpected, massive responsibility or a heavy burden suddenly falls upon someone without any prior warning or effort of their own. It is often used when an unavoidable problem or a huge task is thrust upon a person.
An unexpected calamity.
బారెడు కళ్ళ మీద బట్ట పడ్డట్టు
baredu kalla mida batta paddattu
Like a cloth falling over wide-open eyes
This expression describes a situation where a sudden, unexpected obstacle or misfortune completely obstructs one's vision or progress just when everything seemed clear and promising. It is used when a person is caught off guard by a problem that renders them helpless or blind to the situation at hand.
మిన్ను విరిగి మీద పడ్డట్టు
minnu virigi mida paddattu
As if the sky had broken and fallen upon him. Said of any one sustaining a great shock by suddenly receiving bad news. Thunder-struck.
This expression is used to describe a sudden, overwhelming, or catastrophic event that happens unexpectedly. It conveys a sense of great shock or a situation where one feels like their entire world has collapsed instantly.
ఆడలేక మద్దెల ఓటి అన్నట్లు
adaleka maddela oti annatlu
Like saying the drum is broken because one cannot dance.
This expression is used to describe a person who lacks skill or fails at a task but blames their tools, environment, or others for their failure. It is equivalent to the English proverb 'A bad workman always blames his tools'.
అర్థరాత్రి వేళ మద్దెల దరువు
artharatri vela maddela daruvu
The beating of the drum at midnight
This expression is used to describe an action that is untimely, inappropriate, or creates a nuisance. Just as playing a loud drum in the middle of the night disturbs others and is out of place, it refers to doing something at the wrong time or in the wrong context.
ఆడలేక మద్దెల ఓడు అన్నట్లు
adaleka maddela odu annatlu
Not being able to dance, she abused the drum. A bad workman complains of his tools. An ill shearer never got a hook. (Scots.)
This expression is used to describe a person who blames their tools, environment, or others for their own lack of skill or failure. It is equivalent to the English proverb 'A bad workman always blames his tools'.
ఆడలేక మద్దెల ఓడన్నట్లు
adaleka maddela odannatlu
Like a woman who cannot dance saying the drum is crooked.
This proverb is used to describe a person who blames their tools, environment, or other people for their own lack of skill or failure. It is equivalent to the English idiom 'A bad workman always blames his tools.'
మూలిగే నక్క మీద తాటికాయ పడ్డట్టు
mulige nakka mida tatikaya paddattu
Like a palmyra fruit falling on a groaning jackal. A misfortune caused by a strange coincidence.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is already suffering or in trouble is hit with another misfortune. It is equivalent to the English expression 'adding insult to injury' or 'misfortunes never come singly'.