బంగారం పడితే మన్ను, మన్ను పడితే బంగారం అయినట్లు
bangaram padite mannu, mannu padite bangaram ayinatlu
Like gold turning into mud and mud turning into gold.
This expression describes the volatility of luck or fortune. It refers to a situation where a person with bad luck can turn a valuable opportunity (gold) into a failure (mud), while a person with good luck or skill can turn even a worthless thing into something precious.
Related Phrases
కాలిన మన్నూ కాలని మన్నూ అంటవు
kalina mannu kalani mannu antavu
Burnt earth will not adhere to unburnt. People in different positions in life cannot be very intimate.
This expression is used to describe two people or entities that are fundamentally incompatible or cannot reconcile their differences. Just as burnt clay/soil loses its binding property and cannot merge with raw, unburnt soil, people with opposing natures or those who have had a major falling out cannot be easily brought back together.
మన్ను పెట్టితే బంగారము, బంగారము పెట్టితే మన్ను.
mannu pettite bangaramu, bangaramu pettite mannu.
You get gold out of earth and earth out of gold. i. e. you buy land with money.
This proverb highlights the unpredictable nature of luck and timing. It suggests that when one is going through a fortunate period, even a worthless effort (mud) turns into wealth (gold), but during an unfortunate period, even a valuable investment (gold) can turn into a loss (mud). It is often used to describe the irony of success and failure.
బంగారం పోయిన తర్వాత బట్ట చుట్టమా
bangaram poyina tarvata batta chuttama
Why wrap the cloth after the gold is lost?
This proverb is used to describe an act of being cautious or taking measures when it is already too late. It highlights the pointlessness of guarding an empty container or vessel after the valuable contents have already been stolen or lost. It is similar to the English expression 'locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.'
ముట్టుకుంటే ముత్యం, పట్టుకుంటే బంగారం
muttukunte mutyam, pattukunte bangaram
A pearl if touched, gold if held.
This expression is used to describe someone or something of exceptional quality, value, or purity. It is often used as a compliment for a well-behaved child, a virtuous person, or a piece of work that is flawless and precious.
బంగారం కొద్దీ సింగారం
bangaram koddi singaram
The decoration is proportional to the gold available.
This proverb means that the quality or extent of a result depends on the resources or effort invested. It is used to describe situations where you get exactly what you pay for, or where the outcome is limited by the budget or materials provided.
బంగారపు కత్తి
bangarapu katti
A golden knife. Said of something of intrinsic value but of no utility.
This expression is used to describe something that is beautiful or attractive but nonetheless harmful or dangerous. Just because a knife is made of gold, it doesn't mean it won't cut; it implies that one should not be deceived by outward elegance when the inherent nature is destructive.
ఆలు చచ్చినవాడికి ఆలు బంగారం
alu chachchinavadiki alu bangaram
To a man whose wife has died, she is like gold.
This proverb is used to describe how people tend to appreciate the value of someone or something only after they are lost. It highlights the human tendency to ignore virtues during a person's lifetime but praise them excessively once they are gone.
ఆడది లక్ష్మీ దేవి, మగవాడు బంగారం
adadi lakshmi devi, magavadu bangaram
Woman is Goddess Lakshmi, man is gold
This expression highlights the traditional roles and values in a family. It suggests that a woman brings prosperity and grace (like the Goddess Lakshmi) to a home, while the man represents the wealth and strength (like gold) that provides security. It is often used to emphasize the importance of both genders in maintaining a balanced household.
మన్ను పట్టితే బంగారం, బంగారం పట్టితే మన్ను
mannu pattite bangaram, bangaram pattite mannu
Touching mud turns it into gold, touching gold turns it into mud
This proverb describes the extremes of luck or fortune. It refers to a person's current 'luck streak'—when someone is highly successful, even their smallest efforts (mud) yield great results (gold). Conversely, when someone is going through a period of extreme misfortune, even their most valuable assets or best efforts fail miserably.
సింగారం చూడరా బంగారు మొగుడా?
singaram chudara bangaru moguda?
Look at my finery/makeup, O golden husband!
This is a sarcastic expression used to describe a person who tries to hide their incompetence, flaws, or failures by putting on a showy exterior or focusing on superficial appearances. It originates from a folk story where a woman uses elaborate dressing as a distraction from her lack of skill or a mistake she made.