చేయలేనమ్మకు చేతినిండా పని.
cheyalenammaku chetininda pani.
For the woman who doesn't want to work, her hands are always full of work.
This proverb is used to describe people who are lazy or unwilling to work, but constantly complain about having too much to do as an excuse to avoid their responsibilities. It highlights how someone can make themselves appear busy just to escape actual productivity.
Related Phrases
కూడు లేనమ్మకు గుడ్డలేనివాడు జతపడ్డట్లు
kudu lenammaku guddalenivadu jatapaddatlu
Like a man without clothes joining a woman who has no food
This expression describes a situation where two people who are already in a miserable or needy state come together, resulting in a partnership that offers no solution to their problems but potentially doubles their misery. It is used when two incompetent or resource-deprived entities join forces thinking it will help, though it only compounds their existing issues.
లేనమ్మకు ఊపిరిపోతుంటే, ఉన్నమ్మకు నీళ్లు వెళ్లబోసిందట
lenammaku upiripotunte, unnammaku nillu vellabosindata
While the poor woman was gasping for her last breath, the rich woman was being pampered with a water bath.
This proverb describes a situation of extreme injustice or misplaced priorities. It refers to a scenario where someone in desperate, life-threatening need is ignored, while someone who already has everything is given unnecessary extra attention or luxury. It is used to criticize society's tendency to favor the wealthy and ignore the suffering of the needy.
రూకలేని వాడు పోక చేయలేడు.
rukaleni vadu poka cheyaledu.
A person without a coin cannot even buy a betel nut.
This proverb highlights the importance of money for even the smallest tasks or necessities. It suggests that without financial resources, one's ability to act or progress in the world is severely limited, emphasizing that money is a fundamental requirement for basic transactions.
ఒంటినిండా గంధం పంటినిండా వక్క
ontininda gandham pantininda vakka
Sandalwood paste all over the body and a mouth full of betel nut.
This expression is used to describe someone who is overly decorated, living in extreme luxury, or showing off their prosperity and well-being. It signifies a state of being perfectly groomed and content, often used to remark on someone's high-status appearance or their indulgence in comforts.
నడవలేనమ్మకు నాలుగు పక్కలా సవారి.
nadavalenammaku nalugu pakkala savari.
For the woman who cannot walk, a palanquin ride in all four directions.
This proverb is used to mock people who make excuses for their laziness or incompetence, only to demand excessive comfort and special treatment. It highlights the irony of someone claiming an inability to do a simple task but expecting a grand arrangement for their convenience.
పెట్టినమ్మకు ప్రాణహాని చెప్పినమ్మకు జన్మహాని.
pettinammaku pranahani cheppinammaku janmahani.
She that gives will lose her life, she that advised will lose [ the advantage of ] her birth. The story runs thus: In the city of Matipuram, dwelt a king named Nayaśāli. He had three wives named Sumédāh, Suvarchalā, and Nitimati. Sumédāh was blessed with a son; her rival wives, being barren, were less loved by the king. This caused them to be jealous of Sumédāh, and Nitimati counselled Suvarchalā to poison the son, saying that afterwards they would share the king's favor equally with their more fortunate rival. Suvarchalā consulted in the matter with her intimate friend Vichitravati, the minister's daughter: Vichitravati after some deliberation replied "She that gives will lose her life, she that advised will lose her birth" ( i. e. will be banished from the king's presence.) Suvarchalā profiting by her friend's advice and perceiving the fatal consequences which would follow the com- mission of the intended crime, desisted from her wicked purpose.
This proverb describes a difficult or lose-lose situation where doing a favor or giving advice results in trouble for the benefactor. It is used when someone's kindness or honesty is met with ungratefulness or unexpected negative consequences, suggesting that sometimes helping others can backfire on the helper.
ఊరినిండా అప్పులు, నోటినిండా పళ్ళు
urininda appulu, notininda pallu
A village full of debts, a mouth full of teeth.
This expression is used to describe a person who is drowning in debt but remains shamelessly cheerful or continues to grin as if nothing is wrong. It mocks the irony of having many liabilities while maintaining a facade of carefree happiness or showing off.
కూతుళ్ల కన్నమ్మకు కుర్చీపీటలు, కొడుకులు కన్నమ్మకు గోడపంచలు
kutulla kannammaku kurchipitalu, kodukulu kannammaku godapanchalu
Chairs and stools for the mother of daughters; wall corners for the mother of sons.
This traditional proverb highlights the observation that daughters often take better care of their aging parents with comfort and respect (represented by chairs), whereas sons may neglect them or leave them with no proper place to stay (represented by the eaves of a wall or corners of a house).
చేయలేనమ్మకు చేష్టలు మెండు, వండలేనమ్మకు వగపులు మెండు.
cheyalenammaku cheshtalu mendu, vandalenammaku vagapulu mendu.
A woman who cannot work has many antics; a woman who cannot cook has many grievances.
This proverb describes people who make excuses or create drama to avoid their responsibilities. It is used to mock those who lack skill or willingness to work but pretend to be busy or complain about external factors to hide their incompetence.
ఏమీ లేనిమ్మకు పంతాలు లావు, ఉన్నమ్మకు ఆశలు లావు
emi lenimmaku pantalu lavu, unnammaku ashalu lavu
The woman who has nothing has great stubbornness, while the woman who has everything has great greed.
This proverb highlights a contrast in human behavior: those with no resources or status often resort to excessive pride or stubbornness to overcompensate, whereas those who are wealthy or successful are often driven by an insatiable desire for more. It is used to describe how ego and greed manifest differently based on one's circumstances.