అంతంత కోడికి అర్ధసేరు మసాలా
antanta kodiki ardhaseru masala
Half a kilo of masala for such a tiny chicken.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the overhead or the effort spent on a task is far greater than the value of the task itself. It mocks disproportionate spending, over-preparation for minor issues, or when expenses exceed the actual worth of an item.
Related Phrases
అత్తా అత్తా కొడుకును కంటానంటే, వద్దంటానా అందట
atta atta kodukunu kantanante, vaddantana andata
When a daughter-in-law asked her mother-in-law if she should give birth to a son, the mother-in-law replied, 'Would I ever say no?'
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone asks for permission or proposes something that is obviously beneficial or desirable to the listener. It highlights a rhetorical question where the answer is an emphatic 'yes' because the outcome favors everyone involved.
సేరుకు సవాసేరు
seruku savaseru
A quarter more for every seer.
This expression is used to describe a situation where one person encounters someone even more capable, clever, or dominant than themselves. It is equivalent to the English idiom 'to meet one's match' or 'diamond cuts diamond.' It highlights that there is always someone superior to any given individual.
వంకాయ కూరకు టెంకాయ మసాలా
vankaya kuraku tenkaya masala
Coconut spice/masala for brinjal curry
This expression refers to a perfect combination or an ideal match. Just as coconut masala enhances the taste of brinjal curry, it is used to describe two things or people that complement each other perfectly to produce a great result.
అంతా కంత
anta kanta
All of it is just a hole/gap
This expression is used to describe a situation where there is a total loss, or when something is completely hollow, empty, or useless despite appearances. It implies that everything has gone down the drain or that the entirety of a matter results in nothingness.
కోడిని అడిగి మసాలా నూరుతారా?
kodini adigi masala nurutara?
Will they grind the spices after asking the chicken?
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone's consent is irrelevant or ignored, especially when they are the victim of the outcome. It implies that a person in power or control will not consult the person who is going to be negatively affected by a decision.
అయ్యవారంతంత, అయ్యవారి పెండ్లాము ముంతంత.
ayyavarantanta, ayyavari pendlamu muntanta.
The master is only this much, and the master's wife is as small as a pot.
This proverb is used to describe a couple or a pair of things where both are equally insignificant, small, or mediocre. It is often used humorously or mockingly to point out that neither person in a partnership has any superior quality or stature over the other.
లంకంత కొంపలో చెట్టంత చీపురు.
lankanta kompalo chettanta chipuru.
A broom as big as a tree in a house as big as Lanka.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where there is extreme scarcity or disproportionate lack of resources in an otherwise large or grand setting. It refers to a huge house or family that lacks even basic necessities, or when something very small and insignificant is the only notable thing in a massive space.
పుండంత మానింది చేటంత ఉంది
pundanta manindi chetanta undi
The wound has healed to the extent of an atom, but remains as large as a winnowing basket.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a problem or an ailment has ostensibly 'healed' or been resolved, yet the remaining mark, consequence, or side-effect is still massive and problematic. It highlights cases where the solution hasn't truly diminished the overall burden or visibility of the issue.
అత్త చచ్చిన ఆరు మాసములకు కోడలి కంట నీరు వచ్చినదట
atta chachchina aru masamulaku kodali kanta niru vachchinadata
Six months after the death of the mother-in-law, tears came into the eyes of the daughter-in-law.
This proverb describes a situation where a person shows a delayed, insincere, or hypocritical emotional reaction. It is used to mock someone who pretends to care about a loss or an event long after it happened, or when their reaction is clearly performative rather than genuine.
అంతనాడు లేదు, ఇంతనాడు లేదు, సంతనాడు పెట్టింది ముంతంత కొప్పు
antanadu ledu, intanadu ledu, santanadu pettindi muntanta koppu
Not on that day, not on this day, but on the market day she tied a bun as big as a pot.
This proverb describes a person who remains idle or neglected for a long time but chooses the most busy or inappropriate moment to show off or act. It is used to mock someone who exhibits excessive vanity or performs a task with exaggerated effort only when there is an audience or when it is inconvenient for others.