చెల్లనిదాన్ని చేనుకాడ పెడితే, అయిన కంకులన్నీ అమ్మగారింటికి పంపింది.
chellanidanni chenukada pedite, ayina kankulanni ammagarintiki pampindi.
When a useless woman was sent to guard the field, she sent all the harvested corn ears to her mother's house.
This proverb describes a situation where someone who is considered incompetent or unreliable surprisingly manages to misappropriate or divert resources for their own personal interest or for their relatives. It is used to mock people who act as if they are incapable of work but are very clever when it comes to self-benefit or showing favoritism.
Related Phrases
నల్లనివన్నీ నీళ్ళు కావు, తెల్లనివన్నీ పాలు కావు
nallanivanni nillu kavu, tellanivanni palu kavu
Not everything black is water, and not everything white is milk.
This proverb is used as a warning to not judge anything based solely on its outward appearance. Just because something looks familiar or pure (like milk) doesn't mean it is. It emphasizes that reality can be different from superficial perception, advising people to be cautious and look deeper before forming a judgment.
ఓలి తక్కువ అని గుడ్డిదాన్ని పెండ్లాడితే, దొంతి కుండలన్నీ పగలకొట్టినదట.
oli takkuva ani guddidanni pendladite, donti kundalanni pagalakottinadata.
When a man married a blind woman, on account of the smallness of the jointure, she broke all the pots in the pile.
This proverb describes a situation where someone tries to save money by choosing a cheap or inferior option, only to suffer much greater losses due to the hidden costs or incompetence of that choice. It is equivalent to the English concept of being 'penny wise and pound foolish.'
తెల్లనివన్నీ పాలా? నల్లనివన్నీ నీళ్లా?
tellanivanni pala? nallanivanni nilla?
Is everything white milk? Is everything black water?
This proverb warns against judging things or people based solely on their outward appearance. It suggests that first impressions or surface-level characteristics can be deceptive; just because something looks like milk doesn't mean it is pure, and just because something looks like murky water doesn't mean it is useless.
చచ్చే పెళ్ళాన్ని అమ్మా అంటే బతుకుతుందా
chachche pellanni amma ante batukutunda
If you call a dying wife 'Mother', will she live?
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a remedy or a respectful gesture is applied too late or is irrelevant to the gravity of the problem. It implies that certain outcomes are inevitable and flattering words or desperate last-minute changes cannot reverse a terminal situation or a deep-seated failure.
నా మొగుడికి నిలకడలేదంటే, మాయమ్మ పకులరాట్నం అమ్మవద్దని చెప్పి పంపింది అన్నది.
na mogudiki nilakadaledante, mayamma pakularatnam ammavaddani cheppi pampindi annadi.
When she said her husband had no stability, her mother told her not to sell the weaving wheel.
This proverb is used to describe a person who gives totally irrelevant advice or a non-sequitur response to a problem. It depicts a situation where a woman complains about her husband's lack of character or stability (nilakada), and her mother, misunderstanding the word or being oblivious, gives advice about a spinning wheel (ratnam). It mocks those who offer useless solutions that don't address the core issue.
ఓలి తక్కువని గుడ్డిదాన్ని పెండ్లాడితే, దొంతికుండలన్నీ పగులగొట్టినట్లు.
oli takkuvani guddidanni pendladite, dontikundalanni pagulagottinatlu.
If one marries a blind woman because the dowry (oli) is low, she might end up breaking all the stacked pots.
This proverb warns against being penny-wise and pound-foolish. It describes a situation where someone chooses a cheaper or easier option to save money (like paying a smaller bride price), only to suffer much greater losses or damages later due to the inherent flaws or lack of suitability of that choice. It is used when a shortcut or cheap solution leads to expensive consequences.
ఓలి తక్కువని గుడ్డీదాన్ని పెళ్ళాడితే, పొంత కుండలన్నీ పగలకొట్టిందట
oli takkuvani guddidanni pelladite, ponta kundalanni pagalakottindata
When a man married a blind woman because the dowry (oli) was low, she ended up breaking all the cooking pots.
This proverb is used to warn against being penny-wise and pound-foolish. It describes a situation where someone tries to save money or resources by choosing a cheaper or easier option, only to suffer much greater losses or damages due to the inherent flaws or incompetence of that choice.
అలిగి అత్తగారింటికెళ్ళేకంటే చెడి చెల్లిలింటికి వెళ్ళడం మేలు
aligi attagarintikellekante chedi chellilintiki velladam melu
Going to a sister's house after losing everything is better than going to a mother-in-law's house out of anger.
This proverb highlights social dynamics and self-respect. It suggests that while seeking refuge with a sister when in genuine need (even if financially ruined) is acceptable, going to a mother-in-law's house due to a petty argument or spite is humiliating and ill-advised. It emphasizes that pride should not dictate one's actions, and one should be mindful of where they seek support based on the situation.
కాటికి పోయినా కరణాన్ని నమ్మరాదు
katiki poyina karananni nammaradu
Don't trust a Karanaam even when he is being taken to the cemetery.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is habitually deceitful or manipulative. Historically, 'Karanams' were village officials known for clever record-keeping that often favored themselves. The saying suggests that some people are so inherently untrustworthy or cunning that you should remain cautious of them until your very last breath.
అలిగి అత్తవారింటికి, చెడి చెల్లెలింటికి పోరాదు.
aligi attavarintiki, chedi chellelintiki poradu.
Do not go to your in-laws' house out of anger, and do not go to your sister's house when you are ruined.
This proverb advises maintaining self-respect and social dignity. Going to an in-law's house while angry (after a fight at home) diminishes one's respect there, and going to a sister's house after losing one's wealth or status can become a burden and strain relationships. It emphasizes that one should avoid seeking refuge in places where their presence might lead to humiliation or awkwardness during times of vulnerability.