చెంబు ఎక్కడ పెట్టి మరిచిపోయావురా అంటే నీళ్ళ చాయ కూర్చున్న చోటికి ఇటు అన్నాడు; నీళ్ళ చాయ ఎక్కడ కూర్చున్నావు అంటే చెంబు పెట్టిన దానికి అటు అన్నాడు.
chembu ekkada petti marichipoyavura ante nilla chaya kurchunna chotiki itu annadu; nilla chaya ekkada kurchunnavu ante chembu pettina daniki atu annadu.
When asked where he forgot the water pot, he said 'This side of where I sat for water'; when asked where he sat for water, he said 'That side of where I put the pot'.
This proverb describes a situation of circular reasoning or giving evasive, useless answers. It is used to mock someone who provides explanations that lead back to the starting point without providing any actual information or solving the problem.
Related Phrases
దున్నపోతు ఈనిందంటే, దూడను కట్టేయమన్నాడట
dunnapotu inindante, dudanu katteyamannadata
"The male buffalo has calved" cried one, "Then bring the pot and we'll milk him" replied the other.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone blindly follows or reacts to an illogical or impossible statement without using common sense. It highlights gullibility and the lack of critical thinking when hearing rumors or absurd news.
ఆముదమున్నచోటే నీళ్ళాడినట్లు
amudamunnachote nilladinatlu
As if bathing in the same place where castor oil is present.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is extremely slow, sluggish, or stuck in one place. Just as castor oil makes a surface sticky and difficult to move on, it refers to a person who lacks speed or progress in their actions.
కూర్చున్నవానికి కుప్పలు, తిరిగినవానికి తిప్పలు
kurchunnavaniki kuppalu, tiriginavaniki tippalu
Heaps for the one who sits, troubles for the one who roams.
This proverb contrasts physical labor with strategic or steady placement. It suggests that someone who stays focused or 'sits' (often referring to a landowner or a steady worker) accumulates heaps of grain or wealth, whereas someone who wanders aimlessly or works without a plan faces hardships and troubles. It is used to highlight the rewards of stability versus the difficulties of being unsettled.
కుక్కవంటి మనసు కూర్చుండనిచ్చునా
kukkavanti manasu kurchundanichchuna
Will a dog-like mind let you sit still?
This expression compares the human mind to a restless dog that is constantly moving, wandering, and seeking distractions. It is used to describe the nature of a person who lacks focus, mental peace, or the ability to stay still in one place or on one task.
చావుకు వెరచి చాటుకు వెళ్తే, మిత్తి వచ్చి ముందర కూర్చున్నదట
chavuku verachi chatuku velte, mitti vachchi mundara kurchunnadata
When one hid fearing death, the deity of death came and sat right in front.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone tries to avoid a specific problem or danger, only to find themselves facing an even bigger problem or the exact same fate they were trying to escape. It is similar to the English expression 'Out of the frying pan into the fire.'
మేమే అంటే, మేడలెక్కి కూర్చున్నాడట.
meme ante, medalekki kurchunnadata.
When they said 'Me-me' (bleating), he went and sat on the terrace.
This proverb is used to describe someone who takes a suggestion or a sound too literally or acts with over-enthusiasm based on a misunderstanding. In Telugu, 'Me-me' is the sound a goat makes, but it can also be misinterpreted as 'Me' (upstairs/above) in certain dialects or contexts. It mocks someone who behaves foolishly by jumping to conclusions or seeking a higher status without cause.
వంటాపె అని తెచ్చుకుంటే ఇంటాపై కూర్చున్నదట
vantape ani techchukunte intapai kurchunnadata
When brought in as a cook, she sat on top of the house.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who was hired or brought in to do a humble job ends up dominating the household or overstepping their boundaries. It refers to people who take undue advantage of the position given to them and start controlling the benefactor.
సందెయ్య సందెయ్య అంటే చిచ్చెయ్య చిచ్చెయ్య అన్నదట
sandeyya sandeyya ante chichcheyya chichcheyya annadata
When said 'Evening, evening', she replied 'Fire, fire'
This proverb describes a situation where someone gives an irrelevant or nonsensical reply to a simple statement, often due to a lack of understanding or attention. It highlights a breakdown in communication where the response has no connection to the context provided.
నందాయ సందాయ అంటే చిచ్చాయ చిచ్చాయ అన్నదట
nandaya sandaya ante chichchaya chichchaya annadata
When told 'Nandaya Sandaya', she supposedly replied 'Chichaya Chichaya'
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone gives a completely irrelevant, nonsensical, or rhyming response to a question they don't understand. It highlights a lack of communication or a person's tendency to blabber meaningless words just to sound like they are participating in a conversation.
పోయిన నీళ్ళకు కట్ట కట్టినట్లు
poyina nillaku katta kattinatlu
Like building a dam after the water has already flowed away
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone takes corrective action or precautions after the damage has already been done and it is too late to be effective. It is similar to the English proverb 'locking the stable door after the horse has bolted'.