అంతమాత్రమేనా కొడకా, చెవులు పట్టుకొని తడవేవు అన్నట్టు
antamatramena kodaka, chevulu pattukoni tadavevu annattu
Am I so well off, my son, that you should feel my ears?
This expression is used to describe a person who reacts with unnecessary panic or goes to extreme lengths for a very minor issue. It highlights a situation where someone's worry or investigation is disproportionate to the actual problem, or when someone is trying to verify something obvious in a clumsy way.
Said by an old woman to a thief. * Mel in ore, verba lactis, Fel in corda, fras in factis.
Related Phrases
కాలు పట్టుకొని లాగితే చూరు పట్టుకుని వేళ్ళాడినట్లు.
kalu pattukoni lagite churu pattukuni velladinatlu.
Like hanging onto the eaves of the roof when someone is pulling your leg.
This proverb describes a person who is extremely stubborn or desperate to stay in a position or situation even when they are being forcefully removed. It is used to mock someone who lacks dignity and clings onto something despite being clearly unwanted or rejected.
అవ్వను పట్టుకొని వసంతాలాడినట్టు
avvanu pattukoni vasantaladinattu
Like playing games with your grand-mother. Lit. "Throwing scarlet water over her," a sport among young people as marriages, &c.
This expression is used to describe an inappropriate or disrespectful act where someone behaves in a frivolous or playful manner with a person who deserves respect and dignity due to their age or stature. It highlights actions that are out of place or cross the boundaries of social etiquette.
Disrespectful and unseemly conduct towards elderly people.
కాలు పట్టుకొని లాగితే చూరు పట్టుకొని వేళ్ళాడినట్టు
kalu pattukoni lagite churu pattukoni velladinattu
When someone pulls the leg, hanging onto the eaves of the roof.
This proverb describes a person who is extremely stubborn or desperate to stay in a position or relationship even when they are being forcefully removed or rejected. It signifies a tenacious, often annoying, refusal to let go despite clear opposition.
దాగబోయిన చోట దయ్యాలు పట్టుకున్నట్లు
dagaboyina chota dayyalu pattukunnatlu
The devils caught him in the place he went to hide in. One ill calls another. (Italian.)
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone, while trying to escape or hide from a small problem or danger, ends up encountering a much bigger or more terrifying trouble. It is similar to the English expression 'out of the frying pan and into the fire.'
కాలు పట్టుకొని లాగితే చూరు పట్టుకొని వేలాడేవాడు.
kalu pattukoni lagite churu pattukoni veladevadu.
When you pull him out by the leg, he holds on by the eaves.
This expression is used to describe an extremely stubborn, persistent, or shameless person who refuses to let go or give up. Even when someone tries to remove them or bring them down, they find another way to cling to their position or stay involved.
A man of no delicacy of feeling, not to be got rid of easily. A toady.
తల్లి చెవులు తెంచిన వాడికి ముత్తవతల్లి చెవులు వెంట్రుక మాత్రము
talli chevulu tenchina vadiki muttavatalli chevulu ventruka matramu
The man who tears [the ornaments out of] his mother's ears, will not care a rush for the ears of his great-grand- mother.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is so hardened or wicked that they have already committed a grave sin or major crime, making a smaller offense seem insignificant to them. It implies that once someone has crossed a major moral boundary (like harming their own mother), they will not hesitate to commit further, even smaller, wrongs against others.
ఆపాటి మగడవే అయితే చెవులు తడుముకుంటావెందుకు?
apati magadave ayite chevulu tadumukuntavenduku?
If you are such a capable man, why are you touching/checking your ears?
This expression is used to mock someone who boasts about their bravery or capability but shows signs of hesitation, fear, or insecurity when it comes to action. It is often used to call out a person's bluff or lack of confidence despite their outward claims of strength.
మళయాలములో చెవులు కుట్టుతారని, మాయవరములోనుంచి చెవులు మూసుకొని పోయినట్టు.
malayalamulo chevulu kuttutarani, mayavaramulonunchi chevulu musukoni poyinattu.
[Having heard that] they bore in Malayâlam, she covered up her ears all the way from Mâyavaram.
This proverb describes someone who is overly anxious or paranoid. It refers to a person who takes extreme, unnecessary precautions far in advance or at a great distance out of irrational fear of a potential event. It is used to mock those who overreact to rumors or distant threats.
Mâyavaram is near Combaconum.
అంతమాత్రమా కొడకా, చెవులుపట్టుక తడవేవు అన్నట్లు
antamatrama kodaka, chevulupattuka tadavevu annatlu
Is it only that much son, that you are searching by holding my ears?
This proverb is used to describe someone who lacks common sense or is behaving foolishly. It refers to a story where a blind father is asked if he can see, and the son checks his ears to find the answer. It is used when someone looks for a solution in the wrong place or performs an unnecessary or illogical action to verify something obvious.
అవ్వని పట్టుకొని, వసంతమాడినట్టు
avvani pattukoni, vasantamadinattu
Like playing spring festivals (Holi) with an old grandmother.
This expression is used to describe an inappropriate or disrespectful act where someone mocks or plays a prank on a vulnerable, elderly, or serious person who is not an appropriate peer for such behavior. It signifies doing something at the wrong time, in the wrong place, or with the wrong person.