చిల్లి పేరే తూటు
chilli pere tutu
The name of a hole is a hole. Said of persons contradicting each other, though really driving at the same end.
This expression is used to describe two things that are essentially the same, even if they are called by different names. It highlights redundancy or a distinction without a difference, similar to the English idiom 'six of one, half a dozen of the other'.
Related Phrases
దుందుడుకుతనమే, దూతే తాతే తాలంతత్తే తూతక తాతకతోనా దొందుదొందే
dundudukutaname, dute tate talantatte tutaka tatakatona dondudonde
" The tamarinds have flowered," [said one]. " When the time of blossoming and bearing fruit comes, will flowers and fruit be wanting?" [said another] " You are both alike," [said the third]. Three sisters suffered from an impediment in their speech—each thought she spoke better than either of the other two. The first instead of " Chintalu pûchinavè," said " Tintalu tûtinavè" the second pronounced " Pûchè kâchè kâlam vastè, pûgaka kâyaka pônâ?" as " Tûtè tâtè talam tattè, tûtaka tâtaka tônâ?" and the third, taunting both her sisters, said of their speech " Dondu dondè" for " Rendu rendè" (literally, "the two are two").
This expression is used to describe two people or things that are equally bad, useless, or mischievous. It implies that there is no difference between them as they are both 'two of a kind' or 'birds of a feather.' It is commonly used when comparing two people who are colluding in a wrong act or are equally incompetent.
చిల్లి కాదు, తూటు అన్నాట్ట
chilli kadu, tutu annatta
He said it's not a small hole, it's a large hole.
This expression is used to describe someone who tries to sound clever or correct others by using a different word that means exactly the same thing. It highlights a distinction without a difference, mocking someone who argues over trivial terminology or semantics when the end result is identical.
తొట్టపలచన దానికి తూటు పెద్ద
tottapalachana daniki tutu pedda
For something already very thin/weak, the hole is very large.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a problem or resource is already fragile or scarce, and a new issue or demand makes it significantly worse. It is similar to the English concept of 'adding insult to injury' or 'making a bad situation worse,' specifically in the context of limited resources or physical weakness.
వట్టింటికి పోచిళ్లు చల్లినట్టు.
vattintiki pochillu challinattu.
Like sprinkling grains of rice over an empty house. Pôchillu is a superstitious rite in which a man having thrown grains of rice on a neighbour's house, listens for any words he can overhear, and elicits a meaning from them. A profitless proceeding.
This expression refers to a futile or waste of effort where the outcome is negligible or disappears immediately. Just as sprinkling a little water on a bone-dry, parched floor is absorbed instantly without making a lasting difference, it is used when someone's help or investment is too small to solve a massive problem.
ఢిల్లీ పాచ్ఛా కూతురైనా పెళ్ళికొడుకుకి లోకువే
dhilli pachchha kuturaina pellikodukuki lokuve
Even if she is the daughter of the Emperor of Delhi, she is subordinate to the groom.
This proverb highlights traditional social dynamics where a bride, regardless of her high status or wealthy background, is expected to respect her husband and his family. It is used to suggest that personal status does not override the fundamental roles within a marriage or a specific relationship context.
గంప లాభం, చిల్లి తీసినట్లు
gampa labham, chilli tisinatlu
Like earning a basketful of profit, only for it to drain through a hole.
This proverb describes a situation where a person makes a significant profit or gain, but it is immediately lost or wasted due to a single flaw, bad habit, or unexpected expense. It highlights the irony of large gains being rendered useless by a small, persistent leakage or mismanagement.
కాలికి ఆనె, చెంబుకు చిల్లి
kaliki ane, chembuku chilli
A corn on the foot, a hole in the vessel.
This expression is used to describe a situation where things are perfectly matched in their flaws or shortcomings. It implies that two things are equally useless or problematic, often used to mock an pair or a situation where two people are equally incompetent or ill-suited.
చింతచచ్చినా పులుపు చావదు
chintachachchina pulupu chavadu
Even if the tamarind tree dies, its sourness does not die.
This proverb is used to describe a person who, despite losing their status, wealth, or strength, still retains their arrogance or inherent character traits. It suggests that core nature remains unchanged by circumstances.
ఢిల్లీకి ఢిల్లీ, పల్లెకు పల్లె
dhilliki dhilli, palleku palle
Delhi to Delhi, village to village. Great people with great, little with little.
This expression emphasizes that every place or person has their own distinct importance, status, and rules. It is used to suggest that one should not compare things that are fundamentally different in scale or nature, or to imply that everyone is a 'king' in their own territory.
సంచిలాభం చిల్లి కూడ తీసినది.
sanchilabham chilli kuda tisinadi.
The profit of the bag also took away the hole.
This proverb describes a situation where an attempt to gain profit or solve a problem ends up causing a total loss, often exceeding the original capital. It is used when someone's greed or a bad investment results in losing even what they originally had, much like a hole in a bag leaking out both the profit and the contents.