ఆ వేళకి అడ్డదిడ్డంగా తిరిగితే, సంక్రాంతికి చంకనాకి పోతారు

a velaki addadiddanga tirigite, sankrantiki chankanaki potaru

Translation

If you roam around aimlessly at that time, you will end up licking armpits (be ruined) by Sankranti.

Meaning

This is a sarcastic warning or proverb used to tell someone that if they waste their time and behave recklessly or without discipline now, they will face dire consequences or reach a state of poverty and misery in the near future. It emphasizes that current negligence leads to future failure.

Related Phrases

Like carrying a drum under the arm while going to commit a theft.

This proverb is used to describe someone who attempts to do something secret or stealthy but acts in a way that attracts unnecessary attention. Just as the sound or size of a drum would immediately expose a thief, certain foolish actions make it impossible to keep a secret mission hidden.

This way and that way

This expression is used to describe doing something randomly, recklessly, or excessively in all directions. It often describes a flurry of actions like scolding someone continuously, hitting someone repeatedly, or spending money lavishly without a plan.

The story took a horizontal turn

This expression is used when a situation takes an unexpected or dramatic turn for the worse. It describes a scenario where things did not go according to plan and instead became complicated or problematic.

No matter which armpit you lick, there is nothing; but if you lick the cotton armpit, there is a small coin.

This is a humorous yet cynical proverb used to describe someone who is extremely stingy, calculating, or desperate for tiny gains. It suggests that even in a situation where there is generally nothing to be found, a person might find a microscopic profit (an 'Egani' or small copper coin) by looking in the most unexpected or lowly places. It is often used to mock people who waste time on trivial, petty gains instead of focusing on significant work.

Jangamas for Shivarathri, Haridasus for Sankranti

This expression refers to the specific roles or people who appear during certain occasions. It implies that everything has its own right time and place. Just as Saivite monks (Jangamulu) are prominent during Shivarathri and Vaishnavite devotees (Haridasulu) are seen during Sankranti, certain actions or individuals are relevant only during specific circumstances or seasons.

The cold won't even let you lift your armpits by Shivaratri.

This is a popular Telugu folk saying regarding the seasonal transition. It implies that even though the peak of winter has passed, the cold weather remains significant enough until the Maha Shivaratri festival that people keep their arms close to their bodies to stay warm. It is used to describe the lingering nature of winter in the Telugu states.

Like going to a wedding while carrying a cat under one's arm.

This expression describes a situation where someone brings along an unnecessary burden or a nuisance while trying to perform an important task. It refers to people who create their own obstacles or distractions that make a simple or celebratory event difficult for themselves and others.

Like the hand going around the head just to put a morsel of food in the mouth.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone takes a long, complicated, or roundabout way to do something that could have been done very simply and directly. It highlights unnecessary complexity or lack of efficiency.

Is a bamboo screen an obstacle for a person if it cannot even stop a dog?

This proverb is used to describe something that is very weak or ineffective. It suggests that if a barrier or a rule is too flimsy to stop a simple animal like a dog, it certainly won't stop a determined human being. It is often applied to weak laws, poor security, or flimsy excuses.

There is no barrier between the mouth and the hand.

This expression is used to describe a person who lacks self-control or discipline. It usually refers to someone who eats excessively without restraint or someone who speaks impulsively and acts recklessly without thinking of the consequences.