అయ్యే వరకు ఉండి, ఆరేటప్పటికి లేనట్లు

ayye varaku undi, aretappatiki lenatlu

Translation

Staying until it's finished, but being absent when it's time to serve.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a person who puts in all the hard work or stays through the entire process, but misses out on the results, credit, or the final enjoyment at the very last moment. It is often used to mock someone's bad timing or irony in their presence.

Related Phrases

Having months

This expression is used to indicate that a woman is in the advanced stages of pregnancy, literally meaning that several months of the pregnancy have passed and she is nearing full term.

If you have a mouth, you have a village.

This proverb emphasizes that if one has effective communication skills or the ability to speak up, they can survive and thrive anywhere. It highlights that being vocal and persuasive helps a person find support, resources, and a place in society.

If there is water, there must be seedlings.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of timing and preparedness in agriculture and life. Just as having water is useless for farming without seedlings ready to plant, having resources is ineffective if you aren't prepared to utilize them. It is used to suggest that one should be ready to act when the right conditions or opportunities arise.

If there is plowing, there is a way.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of agriculture and hard work. It suggests that if one prepares the land well (plowing), they will always have a means of survival and a secure future. It is used to highlight that labor is the foundation of sustenance.

As long as there is a nose, there will be a cold (congestion).

This proverb is used to describe a problem or a situation that is an inherent or inevitable part of life. It implies that as long as something exists, the minor troubles associated with it will also persist, and one must learn to live with them rather than expecting perfection.

Ants come on their own to the place where there is sugarcane

This proverb signifies that people are naturally drawn to places or individuals where there is wealth, benefit, or opportunity. It suggests that one does not need to invite others when there is something valuable to be gained; they will flock to it automatically, much like ants find sugar.

One must see off a mountain-like person up to the river.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of proper hospitality and respect. It suggests that even if a guest is as grand or significant as a mountain, one should fulfill their duty by accompanying them to the boundary (symbolized by a river) during their departure. It is used to highlight that social etiquette and traditional honors should be maintained regardless of the status of the guest.

A habit formed at the age of three will last for a hundred years.

This proverb emphasizes that character traits and habits developed in early childhood are deeply ingrained and likely to persist throughout a person's entire life. It is the Telugu equivalent of 'Old habits die hard' or 'The child is father of the man.'

It should look like grieving while also applying a branding iron.

This proverb describes a hypocritical or clever action where someone pretends to sympathize with a person while simultaneously causing them harm or delivering a harsh punishment. It is used to describe situations where a person acts out of self-interest or discipline under the guise of concern.

When asked if there is jaggery, answering that there is ginger.

This expression describes an irrelevant or out-of-context response. It is used when someone provides an answer that has nothing to do with the question asked, or when there is a total lack of communication/understanding between two people.