భోజనం చేసిన వానికి అన్నం పెట్టడం వేడుక, బోడి తల వాడికి తలంటడం వేడుక.

bhojanam chesina vaniki annam pettadam veduka, bodi tala vadiki talantadam veduka.

Translation

The fun of setting food before a man who has had his dinner, or of anointing a shaven head.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe redundant or useless efforts. Just as serving food to someone with a full stomach or attempting to groom a bald head provides no real benefit, performing actions where they are not needed is a waste of resources and time.

Related Phrases

Sparse crop is a celebration for the harvest; dense crop is a celebration for the eyes.

This proverb highlights a practical observation in farming. A sparse crop (pachuni panta) is easy to harvest and manage, making the work celebratory. Conversely, a dense, lush crop (ottu panta) is beautiful to look at and brings joy to the eyes, even if it requires more intensive labor during the harvest.

Quarrelling in one's neighbour's house is pleasant to listen to.

This proverb is used to describe the human tendency to find interest or amusement in the problems or disputes of others, as long as they do not affect oneself. It highlights the schadenfreude or curiosity people have regarding private matters of their neighbors.

Even if there is no head for intelligence, there is a stomach for food.

This sarcastic expression is used to describe someone who lacks common sense, wisdom, or the desire to work, yet is always ready and eager to eat. It highlights the irony of a person being mentally inactive but physically demanding.

Do you need to search for the fragrance of Ippa flowers?

This expression refers to something that is obvious and doesn't require proof or searching. Just as the strong scent of Ippa flowers (Madhuca Longifolia) is instantly recognizable and fills the air without effort, certain truths or qualities are so evident that they do not need investigation or validation.

A quarrel in the neighbor's house is a joy to hear.

This proverb highlights a common human tendency to find entertainment or amusement in the conflicts and troubles of others, particularly neighbors, while ignoring one's own issues. It describes the voyeuristic pleasure people sometimes take in gossip and local drama.

It is fun to sing a song one doesn't know, and fun to style a bald head.

This proverb describes a situation where someone enthusiastically attempts tasks they have no aptitude for or tries to manage resources that are non-existent. It is used to mock people who waste effort on futile, clumsy, or unnecessary actions just for the sake of appearances or out of ignorance.

A fight in the neighbor's house is as festive as a celebration.

This expression describes the human tendency to find entertainment or schadenfreude in the private conflicts or troubles of others. It is used to remark on people who enjoy gossiping or watching drama unfold in their neighborhood instead of minding their own business.

Serving a meal to one who has already eaten is like giving a head bath to a bald person.

This proverb describes redundant or futile actions. It highlights the absurdity of offering something to a person who neither needs it nor can benefit from it, emphasizing that such efforts are a complete waste of time and resources.

One who has committed a mistake and one who has taken a debt cannot show their faces.

This proverb highlights the feelings of guilt and shame. Just as a person who owes money avoids the lender out of embarrassment, a person who has done something wrong lacks the courage or confidence to face others directly. It is used to describe the loss of dignity or boldness resulting from wrong actions or financial burdens.

Inviting someone who won't come is a celebration.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone makes a grand or polite gesture knowing full well that it won't be accepted or fulfilled. It implies a sense of relief or hollow formality, where the host offers something for the sake of appearances because they are certain the other person will decline, thus saving the host from any real effort or expense.