అద్దము మీద పెసరగింజ పడ్డట్టు

addamu mida pesaraginja paddattu

Translation

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.)

Meaning

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.

Related Phrases

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.

In the ages past he was Kandi and in the time of his fore- fathers he was Pesara. Said of a prosy old fellow who spins long yarns.

This expression is used to highlight the decline in quality, health, or size of things over generations. It suggests that what was considered small or ordinary in the past (like a green gram) is comparable or superior to what is considered significant today (like a pigeon pea), emphasizing the strength and richness of the olden days.

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.

Like a green gram falling on a mirror.

This expression is used to describe something that slides off or fails to stick, just as a smooth seed would bounce or slip off a glass surface. It is often used to characterize a person who is unaffected by advice, warnings, or criticism, or to describe a situation where efforts have no lasting impact.

A quarrel between a husband and wife lasts only as long as a green gram stays on a mirror.

This proverb highlights the transient nature of domestic disputes between couples. Just as a small, smooth seed like a green gram cannot find a grip and quickly slides off a slippery surface like a mirror, a disagreement between a married couple is expected to be fleeting and will resolve itself very quickly.

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.

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.

A quarrel between man and wife only lasts as long as a Pesara seed stays on a looking glass.

This proverb describes the fleeting nature of domestic quarrels between a married couple. Just as a smooth, round seed cannot stay on a slippery mirror and falls off instantly, the arguments between a husband and wife are temporary and resolve very quickly. It is used to advise others not to interfere in a couple's small tiffs, as they will reconcile almost immediately.

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.'

A pigeon pea from the olden times, a green gram from the ancestors' times

This expression is used to describe something that is extremely old, ancient, or outdated. It often refers to objects, traditions, or ideas that have been preserved for generations, sometimes implying they are long-lasting and at other times suggesting they are archaic.