అట్టు పెట్టినమ్మకు అట్టున్నర!

attu pettinammaku attunnara!

Translation

One and a half pancakes for the mother who served the pancake!

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person who performs a service or favor for someone else ends up receiving an even larger share or better treatment than the recipient. It often highlights irony, favoritism, or the self-serving nature of the person in charge of distribution.

Related Phrases

The lady who found the ear-ornament was as glad as the lady who lost it was sorry.

This proverb highlights the duality of loss and gain. It describes a zero-sum situation where one person's misfortune directly results in another person's benefit or happiness. It is often used to remark on the irony of life where the same event causes grief to one and celebration to another.

Ill-luck is good for something. ( French. )* * A quelque chose malheur est bon.

The woman who gets startled is often sulky, and the woman with a swelling has more pain.

This proverb describes human nature and physical reality. It implies that a person with a guilty conscience or a sensitive nature is easily offended or reactive (sulky), just as a person with a physical ailment (like a boil or swelling) naturally feels more pain. It is often used to describe someone who reacts defensively or takes offense easily because they know they are in the wrong or are overly sensitive.

Neither the woman who lost her earring is sad, nor the woman who found it is happy.

This expression refers to an object or a situation that is of such low value or triviality that its loss doesn't affect the owner, and its discovery doesn't benefit the finder. It is used to describe things that are practically useless or insignificant to everyone involved.

While the poor woman was gasping for her last breath, the rich woman was being pampered with a water bath.

This proverb describes a situation of extreme injustice or misplaced priorities. It refers to a scenario where someone in desperate, life-threatening need is ignored, while someone who already has everything is given unnecessary extra attention or luxury. It is used to criticize society's tendency to favor the wealthy and ignore the suffering of the needy.

Like watering a lime tree.

This expression is used to describe someone who remains completely indifferent, unbothered, or unresponsive to a situation that should typically provoke a reaction. Just as a lime tree doesn't show immediate or visible changes when watered compared to other plants, it refers to a person's stoic or cold lack of concern.

For the one who arrived, a warm welcome; for the one who didn't, many complaints.

This proverb describes a common human tendency where a person who is present is treated with respect or given tasks, while those who are absent or failed to show up are criticized or spoken of with long, complaining tones (ragalu). It is used to highlight how people often grumble about those who aren't there to defend themselves or how presence dictates treatment.

An attu-and-a-half for the mother who served an attu.

This proverb highlights the principle of reciprocity and generosity. It implies that those who give or help others will receive back even more than what they offered (interest/bonus). It is used to suggest that kindness is rewarded with greater kindness.

The woman who has gives to the woman who has; the woman who has not also gives to the woman who has.

This proverb describes a social irony where resources or gifts tend to flow towards those who are already wealthy or powerful, rather than to those in need. It highlights that everyone seeks to please the rich, while the poor are often ignored or even forced to give up what little they have to those above them.

She that gives will lose her life, she that advised will lose [ the advantage of ] her birth. The story runs thus: In the city of Matipuram, dwelt a king named Nayaśāli. He had three wives named Sumédāh, Suvarchalā, and Nitimati. Sumédāh was blessed with a son; her rival wives, being barren, were less loved by the king. This caused them to be jealous of Sumédāh, and Nitimati counselled Suvarchalā to poison the son, saying that afterwards they would share the king's favor equally with their more fortunate rival. Suvarchalā consulted in the matter with her intimate friend Vichitravati, the minister's daughter: Vichitravati after some deliberation replied "She that gives will lose her life, she that advised will lose her birth" ( i. e. will be banished from the king's presence.) Suvarchalā profiting by her friend's advice and perceiving the fatal consequences which would follow the com- mission of the intended crime, desisted from her wicked purpose.

This proverb describes a difficult or lose-lose situation where doing a favor or giving advice results in trouble for the benefactor. It is used when someone's kindness or honesty is met with ungratefulness or unexpected negative consequences, suggesting that sometimes helping others can backfire on the helper.

The woman who has nothing has great stubbornness, while the woman who has everything has great greed.

This proverb highlights a contrast in human behavior: those with no resources or status often resort to excessive pride or stubbornness to overcompensate, whereas those who are wealthy or successful are often driven by an insatiable desire for more. It is used to describe how ego and greed manifest differently based on one's circumstances.