బిత్తరి బిడ్డను కంటే, ఎలుక ఎత్తుకపోయి వెన్ను కుప్పలో పెట్టిందట
bittari biddanu kante, eluka ettukapoyi vennu kuppalo pettindata
When a foolish woman gave birth to a child, a rat supposedly carried the baby away and placed it in a pile of grain.
This proverb is used to mock someone who is extremely naive, careless, or foolish. It highlights an absurd situation where someone's lack of intelligence or awareness leads to impossible or ridiculous excuses. It is often applied to people who cannot handle simple responsibilities and blame external, illogical factors for their failures.
Related Phrases
ఏమి పెట్టుక తిన్నావంటే, ఆకలెట్టుక తిన్నానందట
emi pettuka tinnavante, akalettuka tinnanandata
When asked what she ate with, she replied she ate with hunger.
This expression highlights that hunger is the best sauce. It implies that when someone is genuinely hungry, the specific side dishes or quality of food do not matter as much as the satisfaction of eating. It is used to describe a situation where necessity or intense desire makes even the simplest thing seem wonderful.
ఊరివారి బిడ్డను రాజుగారు కొడితే, రాజుగారి బిడ్డను దేవుడు కొట్టును.
urivari biddanu rajugaru kodite, rajugari biddanu devudu kottunu.
If the king strikes the child of a commoner, God will strike the child of the king.
This proverb emphasizes the principle of divine justice and karma. It suggests that those in power are not immune to consequences; if an authority figure treats a defenseless person unfairly, they or their legacy will eventually face retribution from a higher power. It serves as a warning against the misuse of power.
వచ్చి ఏరాలి వొంతిన తిందువు, ఇప్పుడెలాగు, ఎలుక పొయ్యి ఎత్తుకపోయిందే!
vachchi erali vontina tinduvu, ippudelagu, eluka poyyi ettukapoyinde!
You were supposed to come, pick, and eat at your leisure; but what now, the rat has carried away the stove!
This is a humorous and sarcastic proverb used to mock people who procrastinate or make grand plans based on things they don't yet possess. It highlights the absurdity of worrying about a secondary problem (how to cook/eat) when a foundational or impossible disaster has occurred (a rat carrying away a heavy clay stove). It is used when someone's excuses for not doing a task are nonsensical or when they have waited too long and lost the opportunity entirely.
కొండను తవ్వి ఎలుకను పట్టినట్ళు.
kondanu tavvi elukanu pattinatlu.
It is like digging up a mountain to catch a mouse.
A fruitless endeavor considering what is obtained by the effort. Sometimes, one makes herculean efforts but achieves precious little.
నీ పత్తుపణం పాడుగానూ, నా వెరుపణం కుప్పలు కుప్పలు పెట్టు.
ni pattupanam paduganu, na verupanam kuppalu kuppalu pettu.
Ruin take your ten fanams, put my one fanam in heaps. The words Pattu paṇam and Oru paṇam are Tamil. Said by a Telugu man, ignorant of Tamil, who was owed one fanam, and owed ten.
This proverb describes a person's extreme selfishness or hypocrisy. It refers to someone who wants others to suffer losses while they themselves profit excessively, even at the expense of others. It is used to mock people who display a 'mine is mine, and yours is also mine' attitude or those who wish for others' ruin while seeking their own prosperity.
ముందు పెళ్ళాం బిడ్డలు ముంత ఎత్తుకుని తిరుగుతుంటే, లంజకు బిడ్డలు లేరని రామేశ్వరం పోయినట్టు
mundu pellam biddalu munta ettukuni tirugutunte, lanjaku biddalu lerani rameshvaram poyinattu
While his wife and children were wandering with begging bowls, he went to Rameshwaram praying for a concubine to have children.
This proverb describes a person who ignores their immediate and primary responsibilities (like taking care of their own family) to focus on unnecessary, inappropriate, or secondary matters. It is used to mock someone's misplaced priorities and hypocrisy.
ఊరివారి బిడ్డను నగరివారు కొట్టితే, నగరివారి బిడ్డను నారాయణుడు కొట్టును.
urivari biddanu nagarivaru kottite, nagarivari biddanu narayanudu kottunu.
If one of the royal family strike a villager's child, Nârâyaṇa will strike his child. "[ The LORD ] will avenge the blood of his servants." Deuteronomy xxxii. 43.
This proverb emphasizes the concept of divine justice and karma. It suggests that if those in power oppress or mistreat the common people who have no one to protect them, God will eventually intervene and punish the oppressors in a similar manner. It serves as a warning against the abuse of power.
పిల్లికి బిచ్చం పెట్టనివాడు
pilliki bichcham pettanivadu
One who doesn't even give alms to a cat
This expression is used to describe an extremely stingy or miserly person who lacks even the smallest amount of generosity. It implies that the person is so greedy that they wouldn't even share a tiny scrap of food with a stray animal.
కడుపున పుట్టిన బిడ్డకన్న కంటను కన్నబిడ్డ ఎక్కువ.
kadupuna puttina biddakanna kantanu kannabidda ekkuva.
A child seen with one's eyes is greater than a child born from the womb.
This proverb emphasizes that nurturing, seeing, and taking care of a child with one's own eyes is more significant than the mere biological act of giving birth. It is often used to highlight the value of adoption, foster care, or the bond formed through upbringing over biological ties.
ఎత్తుక తిన్నవాణ్ణి పొత్తులో పెట్టుకుంటే, అంతా తీసి బొంతలో పెట్టుకున్నాడట
ettuka tinnavanni pottulo pettukunte, anta tisi bontalo pettukunnadata
When a thief who steals and eats was taken as a partner, he stole everything and hid it in his bundle.
This proverb warns against trusting a person with a known history of dishonesty or theft. It implies that if you enter into a partnership or trust someone who is habitually untrustworthy, you shouldn't be surprised when they eventually betray you or steal your belongings. It is used to describe situations where someone suffers a loss due to their own poor judgment in choosing associates.