చెట్టును తేరా అంటే, గుట్టను తెచ్చినట్లు

chettunu tera ante, guttanu techchinatlu

Translation

When asked to bring a tree, it is like bringing a hillock.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone performs a task that is vastly different in scale or nature from what was actually requested, usually due to a lack of understanding or excessive, misdirected effort. It highlights the mismatch between the instruction and the execution.

Related Phrases

Like going to Kashi and bringing back a donkey's egg.

This expression is used to mock someone who undertakes a long, arduous journey or puts in significant effort, only to return with something useless, non-existent, or disappointing. Since donkeys do not lay eggs, it highlights the absurdity and futility of the person's claim or achievement after a grand endeavor.

The greed for wealth brought sin, and evil thoughts brought ruin.

This proverb highlights the destructive nature of greed and malice. It implies that being overly obsessed with money leads one to commit sinful acts, while harboring negative intentions or bad thoughts eventually leads to one's own downfall or misfortune. It is used as a moral warning to maintain integrity and a positive mindset.

Like going for a bunch (of flowers/fruit) and bringing back a club.

This proverb describes a situation where someone goes out expecting a benefit or a pleasant outcome but returns with something harmful or a punishment instead. It is used to mock poor decision-making or bad luck where an attempt to gain something resulted in a loss.

He bartered a milch she buffalo for a goring he buffalo.

This proverb describes a foolish exchange or a bad bargain. It refers to a situation where someone gives away something useful and productive (the milking buffalo) only to replace it with something useless and harmful (the aggressive bull). It is used when a person makes a decision that results in a significant loss of utility and an increase in trouble.

Going to Mekka and bringing back dog's dirt.

This expression is used to describe a person who goes on a great or sacred journey (or takes on a significant opportunity) but returns with something worthless or engages in something trivial and disgraceful. It highlights the irony of wasting a valuable opportunity or a holy pilgrimage by focusing on or bringing back something foul.

A daughter-in-law who brings gifts and a son-in-law who brings wealth.

This expression highlights the material expectations and value placed on relatives based on the assets or dowry they bring into a family. It implies that such individuals are often given more respect or importance because of their financial contribution. It is used to describe the transactional nature of some familial relationships.

Like saying 'I will donate daringly, now bring me a handful of kodo millets'.

This proverb is used to mock people who make grand, boastful promises of generosity or bravery but do not even possess the basic resources to fulfill them. It highlights the irony of someone acting like a great philanthropist while asking others for a small amount of cheap grain (millets) to give away.

Like selling a milk-giving buffalo to buy a male buffalo just to ride on it.

This proverb is used to describe a foolish person who gives up a productive or profitable asset for something that provides status or temporary pleasure but is ultimately unproductive or a liability. It highlights poor decision-making where one sacrifices long-term utility for short-term vanity or convenience.

Like carrying fire tied in the fold of one's garment

This expression is used to describe a person or a situation that brings trouble, danger, or destruction along with them. Just as carrying live embers in a cloth is dangerous and will eventually burn the person carrying it, inviting a troublemaker or initiating a risky plan will lead to self-destruction.

I have determined on being liberal, bring a handful of grain.

This proverb is used to mock people who make grand, boastful promises of generosity or bravery when they actually possess nothing or have very little to offer. It highlights the irony of someone acting like a great philanthropist while asking others for basic necessities.