అప్పా! పప్పు వండవే, చెడేవాడు బావ ఉన్నాడు కదా!
appa! pappu vandave, chedevadu bava unnadu kada!
Sister! Cook the dal, the brother-in-law is there to get ruined anyway!
This expression is used to describe a person who is reckless or extravagant with someone else's resources or money. It highlights a parasitic attitude where one person encourages another to spend wastefully because the financial burden or negative consequences will fall on a third party (often a family member) rather than themselves.
Related Phrases
పాపాలకు భైరవుడు పాపన్న
papalaku bhairavudu papanna
For sins, Papanna is the Bhairava.
This expression refers to a person who is ruthless and uncompromising when dealing with wrongdoers or sinners. In Telugu culture, Bhairava is a fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva associated with annihilation and justice. The phrase implies that just as Bhairava punishes evil, a person named Papanna (or anyone being described this way) acts as a fearsome judge or punisher for those who commit sins.
అప్పు చేసి పప్పు కూడు
appu chesi pappu kudu
Taking a loan to eat lentil rice.
This expression is used to describe a person who lives beyond their means or spends borrowed money on luxuries and comforts instead of being frugal. It highlights the short-sightedness of enjoying life through debt.
చెడు చెడు అనగానే, చెడేవారు లేరు.
chedu chedu anagane, chedevaru leru.
Just because someone says 'perish perish', nobody will actually perish.
This expression means that people do not face ruin or downfall simply because others wish it upon them or speak ill of them. It is used to suggest that ill wishes, curses, or malicious talk from others lack the power to cause real harm to a person's life or destiny.
ఉప్పువాడు చెడె, పప్పువాడూ చెడె, తమలపాకులవాడు తమాము చెడె.
uppuvadu chede, pappuvadu chede, tamalapakulavadu tamamu chede.
The salt seller was ruined, the pulse seller was ruined, and the betel leaf seller was completely ruined.
This proverb describes a chain reaction of financial or situational ruin. It illustrates how a delay or a specific failure can affect multiple people in a sequence. In the context of the folk story it originates from, a delay in a wedding or a meal caused the salt and lentils (perishables/goods) to go to waste, but the betel leaf seller suffered the most because those leaves wilt the fastest. It is used to describe situations where one person's misfortune or mistake leads to the downfall of everyone associated with the task.
బక్కవానికి బలిసినవాడు బావ, బలిసినవాడికి బక్కవాడు బావ
bakkavaniki balisinavadu bava, balisinavadiki bakkavadu bava
To a lean man, a wealthy man is a brother-in-law; to a wealthy man, a lean man is also a brother-in-law.
This proverb highlights the reciprocity and equality inherent in kinship and relationships, regardless of economic status. In Telugu culture, 'Bava' (brother-in-law) denotes a close relative. The saying suggests that blood relations or social bonds remain the same regardless of one person being rich (balisinavadu) and the other being poor (bakkavadu). It is used to emphasize that status shouldn't change how family members treat or address one another.
ఉప్పువాడూ చెడె, పప్పువాడూ చెడె, తమలపాకులవాడు తమాం చెడె.
uppuvadu chede, pappuvadu chede, tamalapakulavadu tamam chede.
The salt seller is ruined, the pulse vender is ruined, and the betel seller is entirely ruined.
This proverb is used to describe situations where a lack of unity or a delay in decision-making leads to the downfall of everyone involved. It specifically refers to how salt spoils lentils when mixed too early, but betel leaves, being highly perishable, ruin the fastest and most completely. It serves as a warning against indecision and the compounding nature of losses in a group.
అప్పు చేసి పప్పు కూడు
appu chesi pappu kudu
Eating lentil rice by taking a loan.
This proverb describes a person who lives a lavish or comfortable lifestyle beyond their means by borrowing money. It refers to the habit of prioritizing immediate luxury or indulgence without worrying about future debt or financial consequences.
చెడేవాడు చెన్నూగాడు చెడుతుంటే, ఇంకా చారెడు ఎగెయ్యమన్నాడట
chedevadu chennugadu chedutunte, inka charedu egeyyamannadata
When a man named Chennugadu was already ruining himself, someone asked to throw a handful more (of fuel or ruin) his way.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who is already on a path of self-destruction or making a big mistake is further encouraged or pushed toward total downfall by others. It is similar to the English concept of 'adding fuel to the fire' or 'kicking someone when they are down,' specifically in the context of witnessing an inevitable failure and accelerating it.
పండ్లు ఉన్నవాడికి పప్పులు లేవు, పప్పులు ఉన్నవాడికి పండ్లు లేవు
pandlu unnavadiki pappulu levu, pappulu unnavadiki pandlu levu
The one who has teeth doesn't have nuts, and the one who has nuts doesn't have teeth.
This proverb describes the irony of life where opportunities or resources often come to those who cannot utilize them, while those who have the capability or desire lack the necessary means. It is used to express that life is rarely fair or perfectly balanced.
చెడేవాడు అబ్బడున్నాడు, మరీ పిడికెడు తేరా దానము చేస్తాను అన్నాడట
chedevadu abbadunnadu, mari pidikedu tera danamu chestanu annadata
It is Abbaḍu who will be ruined, bring me another handful [of money,] I will give it in alms.
This proverb describes a person who, despite being on the verge of bankruptcy or total ruin, continues to act recklessly and extravagantly. It is used to mock someone who shows false generosity or wastes resources they no longer possess, illustrating that their poor judgment is what led to their downfall in the first place.
Abbaḍu is a familiar term applied to a lad. Hens are ay free o' horse corn. (Scotch.)