బంగారు కరగదు వెలిగారం తప్పనట్లు
bangaru karagadu veligaram tappanatlu
Like saying gold won't melt without borax.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a specific, essential catalyst or a small but crucial detail is absolutely necessary to achieve a result. Just as gold requires borax (flux) to melt properly, certain tasks cannot be completed without a particular person or a specific resource.
Related Phrases
ఉంగరం చెడిపి బొంగరం, బొంగరం చెడిపి ఉంగరం చేసినట్లు.
ungaram chedipi bongaram, bongaram chedipi ungaram chesinatlu.
Like breaking a ring to make a top, and then breaking the top to make a ring.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks a clear vision or skill, resulting in wasted effort and resources. It refers to someone who repeatedly undoes their own work or destroys something useful to create something else, only to reverse the process again, ending up with nothing productive or losing the original value of the materials.
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.
బంగారు గాలానికే బంగారు చేపలు పడవు
bangaru galanike bangaru chepalu padavu
Golden hooks do not necessarily catch golden fish.
This expression means that using expensive or high-quality tools does not always guarantee a superior or successful outcome. It highlights that merit, skill, or luck often matter more than the outward appearance or cost of the resources used. It is used to caution against the belief that money alone can buy success.
సత్యం తప్పినా పత్యం తప్పినా పాట్లు తప్పవు
satyam tappina patyam tappina patlu tappavu
Whether you deviate from the truth or deviate from a prescribed diet, troubles are inevitable.
This proverb highlights the importance of integrity and discipline. It suggests that just as ignoring medical dietary restrictions leads to physical suffering, abandoning truth and honesty leads to moral and social consequences. In both cases, the person must face the resulting hardships.
కోపం వచ్చి కారం తిన్నట్లు
kopam vachchi karam tinnatlu
Eating chili powder out of anger.
This expression describes a situation where someone, in a fit of rage, takes an action that only ends up hurting themselves rather than the person they are angry with. It is used to caution against self-destructive behavior driven by spite or temper.
భాగ్యముంటే, బంగారం తింటారా?
bhagyamunte, bangaram tintara?
If one is wealthy, do they eat gold?
This proverb highlights the essential nature of basic necessities over luxury. It implies that no matter how rich a person is, they still need food to survive just like anyone else. It is used to humble those who are arrogant about their wealth or to remind people that money cannot satisfy every human need.
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.
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.
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.