బట్టతలమ్మ పాపట తీయమన్నట్లు
battatalamma papata tiyamannatlu
Like asking a bald woman to part her hair.
This expression refers to asking for something that is impossible or demanding something that doesn't exist. It is used to describe a situation where a request is made to someone who lacks the basic resources or capacity to fulfill it, highlighting the absurdity or futility of the demand.
Related Phrases
వన్నె బట్టలమ్మ వలపుడు కన్న గుడ్డ బట్టలమ్మ కులుకుడే లావు.
vanne battalamma valapudu kanna gudda battalamma kulukude lavu.
The swaying of the woman in rags is more than the charm of the woman in colorful clothes.
This proverb is used to mock people who have little to offer or possess very little, yet display excessive pride, vanity, or arrogance. It highlights the irony of someone with no status or wealth acting more pretentious than those who actually possess them.
బట్టతలకు పేలు పట్టినట్టు
battatalaku pelu pattinattu
Like lice infesting a bald head.
Used to describe a situation that is logically impossible, highly improbable, or a baseless allegation. Just as lice cannot live on a head without hair, this expression mocks claims or events that lack any foundation or sense.
బట్టతలకు, మోకాళ్ళకు ముడి వేసినట్టు.
battatalaku, mokallaku mudi vesinattu.
Like trying to tie a knot between a bald head and a knee.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone tries to link two completely unrelated things or logic. It refers to an absurd comparison or an illogical argument where there is no practical connection between the subjects being discussed.
ఇందమ్మా తియ్యకూర అంటే ఇందమ్మ పుల్లకూర అన్నట్లు
indamma tiyyakura ante indamma pullakura annatlu
When asked for sweet curry, being offered sour curry instead.
This expression describes a situation where someone gives a response or an item that is exactly the opposite of what was requested. It highlights a lack of understanding, intentional stubbornness, or a total mismatch in communication between two people.
అయ్య తిరుపతి, అమ్మ పరపతి.
ayya tirupati, amma parapati.
Husband is in Tirupati, Wife is on credit.
This proverb describes a situation where the head of the family (husband) is away or has abandoned responsibilities (symbolized by going to the pilgrimage site Tirupati), while the wife manages the household by taking debts or relying on social standing (credit). It is used to mock families that maintain an outward show of status while being financially unstable or lacking internal coordination.
బట్టతలకు పేలు పట్టినట్లు
battatalaku pelu pattinatlu
Like lice infestation on a bald head
This expression is used to describe a situation that is impossible, illogical, or a blatant lie. Just as lice cannot live on a bald head because there is no hair to cling to, the phrase refers to claims or events that lack any basis in reality or common sense.
పెట్టినమ్మ పుణ్యానపోదు, పెట్టనమ్మ పాపాన పోదు.
pettinamma punyanapodu, pettanamma papana podu.
The woman who serves/gives doesn't go to heaven just for that, and the woman who doesn't serve doesn't go to hell just for that.
This expression is used to highlight that charity or hospitality should be done out of genuine kindness rather than for spiritual rewards or out of fear of sin. It suggests that one's character and overall actions matter more than a single act of giving or refusing. It is often used to tell someone not to be too proud of their charity or too judgmental of others' lack thereof.
తవుడు తాతా అంటే నూకలా ముసలమ్మా అన్నట్లు
tavudu tata ante nukala musalamma annatlu
When called 'Bran Grandfather', responding with 'Broken-grain Grandmother'
This expression describes a situation where one person retorts with a similarly petty or derogatory remark in response to an insult. It signifies tit-for-tat behavior or a mutual exchange of worthless or sarcastic comments between two people who are equally matched in their cynicism or circumstances.
తీగ పెట్టినమ్మ మాట తీయగా, కమ్మపెట్టినమ్మ మాట కమ్మగా, విచ్చుటాకులున్నమ్మా నీమాట విన సహించదు అన్నదట.
tiga pettinamma mata tiyaga, kammapettinamma mata kammaga, vichchutakulunnamma nimata vina sahinchadu annadata.
The words of the one who gave a creeper are sweet; the words of the one who gave a leaf-stalk are savory; but the words of the one who has blooming leaves are unbearable to hear.
This proverb highlights human psychology and bias based on self-interest. It refers to a person who praises those who have given them something (even something small like a vegetable creeper or a palm leaf) while being critical or intolerant of those who have plenty but have not shared anything with them yet. It is used to describe how people's perceptions of others are often colored by the benefits they receive.
అంబడిపూడి అప్పయ్యదీ బట్టతలే, నా మొగునిదీ బట్టతలే! కానీ, అప్పయ్యది ఐశ్వర్యపు బట్టతల, నా మొగుడిది పేను కొరికిన బట్టతల.
ambadipudi appayyadi battatale, na mogunidi battatale! kani, appayyadi aishvaryapu battatala, na mogudidi penu korikina battatala.
Ambadipudi Appayya has a bald head and my husband has a bald head! But Appayya's is a bald head of prosperity, while my husband's is a bald head caused by lice.
This proverb is used to illustrate how people try to draw superficial comparisons between two things that are fundamentally different in quality or origin. It mocks the tendency to justify one's own poor situation by comparing it to a successful person's situation, ignoring the underlying reality that one signifies success while the other signifies misfortune or neglect.