అమ్మా అమ్మా నొప్పులెత్తుకున్నపుడు నన్ను లేపవే అంటే, అలాగే పడుకో బిడ్డ ఊటగా నొప్పులెత్తుకుంటే ఊరెల్ల నీవే లేపుతావు అందట.
amma amma noppulettukunnapudu nannu lepave ante, alage paduko bidda utaga noppulettukunte urella nive leputavu andata.
When a daughter said, 'Mother, wake me up when labor pains start,' the mother replied, 'Just sleep, my child; when the pains start in earnest, you will wake the whole village yourself.'
This proverb highlights that certain experiences or responsibilities are so intense or natural that they do not require external reminders or prompts. It is used to describe situations where a person thinks they need a warning for an upcoming event, but the event itself will be so significant that it will demand their full attention and action automatically.
Related Phrases
పడమటి వీధి అమ్మ సరిగ పెట్టుకుంటే, ఉత్తర వీధి అమ్మ ఉరిపెట్టుకుందట
padamati vidhi amma sariga pettukunte, uttara vidhi amma uripettukundata
When the lady of the West Street wore a gold lace (sari), the lady of the North Street supposedly hanged herself.
This proverb is used to mock people who are excessively envious or competitive. It describes a situation where someone cannot tolerate another person's success or luxury to such an extreme extent that they cause harm to themselves out of pure jealousy.
పొరుగుమ్మ సరిపెట్టుకుంటే, ఇరుగమ్మ ఉరిపెట్టుకుందట
porugumma saripettukunte, irugamma uripettukundata
When the neighbor managed with what she had, the other woman hanged herself.
This proverb is used to criticize people who indulge in unnecessary competition or unhealthy comparisons. It describes a situation where one person tries to imitate or outdo another's lifestyle or circumstances beyond their own capacity, often leading to their own downfall or misery.
మెత్తలు ఎండకు వేస్తే, మెడ నొప్పులు పోతాయా?
mettalu endaku veste, meda noppulu potaya?
If you put cushions in the sun, will the neck pain go away?
This expression is used to highlight that addressing the symptoms or external factors (drying the pillows) won't solve an internal or more deep-rooted problem (the actual neck pain or underlying injury). It is often used when someone suggests a superficial or irrelevant solution to a serious problem.
నొప్పులెత్తుకున్నప్పుడే మంత్రసాని దెబ్బ సందు
noppulettukunnappude mantrasani debba sandu
Looking for the midwife only after the labor pains have started.
This proverb describes a situation where someone waits until the very last moment or a crisis to start looking for a solution or assistance. It is used to criticize poor planning or lack of foresight, emphasizing that one should be prepared before an emergency arises.
కట్టుకున్న మొగుడు, పెట్టుకున్న నగలు.
kattukunna mogudu, pettukunna nagalu.
The husband one is married to, the jewelry one is wearing.
This expression highlights the items or people that truly belong to a person and provide real security or status. It is used to emphasize that only what is legally yours or physically in your possession can be relied upon in times of need or social standing.
ఎత్తుకున్న బిడ్డ మొత్తుకున్నా ఆగదు
ettukunna bidda mottukunna agadu
A child in arms won't stop crying even if you hit it.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where one is forced to endure a burden or responsibility they have voluntarily taken up. Once you have committed to helping someone or taking on a task (lifting the child), you must bear the consequences and difficulties (the crying/trouble) that come with it until the end.
రెండు తప్పలు ఎప్పుడూ ఒక ఒప్పు కాలేవు
rendu tappalu eppudu oka oppu kalevu
Two wrongs can never make a right
This expression is used to say that if someone has done something bad to you, there is no justification for you to do something bad to them in return. It implies that a second wrongful action does not correct or balance out the first one.
ఎత్తుక తిన్నవాణ్ణి పొత్తులో పెట్టుకుంటే, అంతా తీసి బొంతలో పెట్టుకున్నాడట
ettuka tinnavanni pottulo pettukunte, anta tisi bontalo pettukunnadata
When a thief who steals and eats was taken as a partner, he stole everything and hid it in his bundle.
This proverb warns against trusting a person with a known history of dishonesty or theft. It implies that if you enter into a partnership or trust someone who is habitually untrustworthy, you shouldn't be surprised when they eventually betray you or steal your belongings. It is used to describe situations where someone suffers a loss due to their own poor judgment in choosing associates.
ఉలవ లెత్తమంటే ఊళ్ళడిగినట్లు
ulava lettamante ulladiginatlu
When asked to lift horse grams, asking for the entire village.
This proverb describes a person who, when asked to perform a simple or specific small task, responds with irrelevant, grand, or impossible demands. It is used to highlight someone's evasiveness or their tendency to complicate a straightforward request with unnecessary conditions.
సాటి అమ్మ సరిగె పెట్టుకుంటే, ఊరి అమ్మ ఉరిపెట్టుకున్నదట
sati amma sarige pettukunte, uri amma uripettukunnadata
When a peer wore a gold border, the village woman hanged herself.
This proverb describes extreme envy and unhealthy competition. It is used to mock someone who tries to imitate others' prosperity beyond their means or feels so much jealousy toward a peer's success that they resort to self-destruction or extreme frustration.