బతకలేనమ్మ బావిలో పడి చచ్చిందట

batakalenamma bavilo padi chachchindata

Translation

The woman who couldn't live fell into a well and died.

Meaning

This expression is used to mock someone who makes a dramatic scene or an empty threat out of laziness or a lack of will to face responsibilities. It highlights a situation where someone chooses an easy, albeit extreme, way out rather than putting in the effort to sustain their life or solve their problems.

Related Phrases

A life habituated to eating died out of restlessness.

This proverb describes a person who becomes so addicted to a certain luxury, comfort, or habit that they suffer immensely or perish when they can no longer access it. It is used to caution against developing excessive dependencies or greed.

A woman who couldn't survive (or didn't want to live) supposedly jumped into a dry well after placing a ladder in it.

This proverb is used to mock people who make a theatrical show of their suffering or pretend to take a drastic step like committing suicide, but take all precautions to ensure they remain safe. It describes someone who is insincere about their intentions or someone who performs 'fake' sacrifices.

The incident of the comedian falling into a well.

This expression refers to a situation where a serious problem or a genuine mishap is mistaken for a joke or a prank because of the person involved. It is used when someone's past behavior (like constant joking) causes others to ignore their genuine cries for help, or when a situation is handled with lack of seriousness until it is too late.

The ox died, but the branding mark was well-placed.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a lot of effort or a specific procedure was carried out perfectly, yet the ultimate goal or subject was lost. It highlights a bittersweet or ironic scenario where the operation was a success, but the patient died. It is often used to mock someone who focuses on technical perfection while failing to achieve the actual purpose.

When a person unable to survive jumped into a well, the person who went to rescue him fell into a ditch.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone's attempt to help a person in deep trouble results in a bigger disaster or misfortune for the helper themselves. It highlights ironical outcomes where the rescuer ends up in a worse position than the person needing help, or where a bad situation simply compounds into a comedy of errors.

They say a vulture died because a crow was hit.

This expression is used to describe a situation where an action is taken against a minor or irrelevant target, but the result is claimed to have affected a much larger or more significant entity. It highlights a false sense of achievement or a logical fallacy where two unrelated events are linked to exaggerate one's prowess.

The woman who couldn't pound (grain) just kept blowing on it.

This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks the skill or will to complete a difficult task and instead makes excuses or performs unnecessary, superficial actions to appear busy or to delay the work. It is similar to the English idea of 'making a show of effort' while avoiding the actual labor.

The woman who had no brinjal clung to the thorny bush.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone makes a huge fuss or puts in excessive, unnecessary effort over something trivial or non-existent. It mocks people who pretend to be busy or create a scene to compensate for their lack of actual results or resources.

When the daughter-in-law wore her deceased mother-in-law's saree because she died, the mother-in-law returned as a ghost to haunt her.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone tries to benefit from another person's misfortune or death, only to find that the benefit brings unforeseen troubles or burdens. It highlights that ill-gotten gains or taking advantage of a situation can lead to haunting consequences.

When told the child fell into the well, he said he would come after eating his leftovers.

This proverb describes someone who is extremely lazy, indifferent, or lacks a sense of urgency even in life-threatening or critical situations. It is used to criticize people who prioritize trivial personal comforts over immediate, serious responsibilities.