చిన్ననాడూ లేవు, పెద్దనాడూ లేవు, చంద్రశేఖరుడినాడు చెవుల పోగులా.
chinnanadu levu, peddanadu levu, chandrashekharudinadu chevula pogula.
I had them not in childhood, nor in age, am I now to have earrings in Chandraśekhara's time ? Said by a father to whom earrings were offered when, in his old age, a son had been born to him.
This proverb describes a situation where someone suddenly acquires or flaunts something new late in life that they never had before, often appearing out of place or pretentious. It is used to mock people who experience sudden prosperity or change their habits inconsistently with their past life, or to describe an unexpected event happening at an unusual time.
Related Phrases
చెవిటి పెద్దమ్మూ చేంత్రాడు తేవే అంటే, చెవుల పోగులు నా జన్మానా యెరగనన్నదట.
cheviti peddammu chentradu teve ante, chevula pogulu na janmana yeraganannadata.
When the deaf old lady was asked to bring the well-rope, she replied "I have never seen earrings in all my life."
This proverb describes a situation where there is a complete lack of communication or relevance in a conversation. It is used when someone gives an answer that is totally unrelated to the question asked, usually due to a misunderstanding, ignorance, or a tendency to focus only on their own personal concerns regardless of the context.
Applied to a stupid person not doing what he is told.
జెముడుకు కాయలూ లేవు, నిలువ నీడా లేదు.
jemuduku kayalu levu, niluva nida ledu.
The cactus has no fruit and provides no shade to stand under.
This expression is used to describe a person who is completely useless or of no benefit to others. Just as the cactus plant neither offers food (fruit) nor relief from the sun (shade), some people possess neither resources to share nor a helpful nature.
మాచెర్ల దొరలకు మీసాలు లేవు, పల్నాటి దొరలకు వాసాలు లేవు.
macherla doralaku misalu levu, palnati doralaku vasalu levu.
The lords of Macherla have no mustaches, and the lords of Palnadu have no rafters.
This is a satirical historical proverb reflecting on a period of extreme poverty or decline. Mustaches are traditionally symbols of pride and masculinity (lords), while rafters (vasalu) are essential for building a house. It implies that the rulers lost their dignity and the common people lost their shelter, used to describe situations where everyone, regardless of status, is lacking basic necessities or pride.
గంగాధరుడు చచ్చినాడు అమ్మా!
gangadharudu chachchinadu amma!
O Madam! Gangâdhara is dead. The story is as follows :—The washerwoman of a certain Queen had a female donkey which was pregnant. The woman vowed to Siva that if the donkey was safely delivered she would call the young one Gangâdhara ( one of the names of Siva, signifying " the receiver of the Ganges" ). The birth took place and the vow was fulfilled, but after a short time the young donkey died. The washerwoman was in great grief, neglected to bring the Queen's clothes, and weeping cried out " Gangâdhara is dead!" The servant sent from the palace, thinking that Gangâdhara must be some impor- tant person, went crying to the Queen. The Queen believing that a relation of the king had died commenced to weep, her whole household joining in her lamentations—the king on enquiring the cause of his consort's grief received the same information that Gangâdhara was dead, whereupon, imagining that he was a relation of the Queen's, he joined in the general howling, in which he was assisted by all his court! When the truth was at last known, all were ashamed.
This is a humorous expression from a famous Telugu folk story (Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha). It is used to describe a situation where someone reveals a 'secret' or a piece of news that everyone already knows, or when someone states the obvious with unnecessary dramatic flair. In the story, the disciples try to hide a death that is already apparent to everyone.
ఒకనాడు విందు ఒకనాడు మందు
okanadu vindu okanadu mandu
One day a feast, one day medicine
This expression warns about the consequences of overindulgence. It implies that if you feast excessively today, you will have to take medicine for health issues tomorrow. It is used to advise moderation in eating and lifestyle habits.
నొసట కళ్ళు లేవు, నోట్లో పళ్ళు లేవు
nosata kallu levu, notlo pallu levu
No eyes on the forehead, no teeth in the mouth.
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely old or in a state of physical decline. It can also sarcastically refer to someone who is acting helpless or lacks basic common sense and capability.
చెవిటి పెద్దమ్మా చేంత్రాడు తేవే అంటే, చెవుల పోగులు నా జన్మానా యెరగ నన్నదట.
cheviti peddamma chentradu teve ante, chevula pogulu na janmana yeraga nannadata.
When a deaf old lady was asked to bring the well-rope, she replied that she had never known or seen earrings in her life.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone gives a completely irrelevant answer because they didn't understand the question, or when there is a significant communication gap. It highlights the absurdity of 'talking at cross-purposes' where one person's request has nothing to do with the other person's response.
పండ్లు ఉన్నవాడికి పప్పులు లేవు, పప్పులు ఉన్నవాడికి పండ్లు లేవు
pandlu unnavadiki pappulu levu, pappulu unnavadiki pandlu levu
The one who has teeth doesn't have nuts, and the one who has nuts doesn't have teeth.
This proverb describes the irony of life where opportunities or resources often come to those who cannot utilize them, while those who have the capability or desire lack the necessary means. It is used to express that life is rarely fair or perfectly balanced.
కథకు కాళ్లు లేవు, ముంతకు చెవులు లేవు
kathaku kallu levu, muntaku chevulu levu
No legs to the tale, no ears to the pot. Said of a story that one cannot make head or tail of. A story without a head. (Greek.)
This proverb is used to describe a story, explanation, or excuse that lacks logic, consistency, or a proper foundation. It refers to something that is nonsensical or a 'cock and bull story' where the details don't add up or have no basis in reality.
ఒకనాడు విందు, ఒకనాడు మందు
okanadu vindu, okanadu mandu
One day a feast, one day medicine.
This expression highlights the consequence of overindulgence. It suggests that if you indulge in a lavish feast or overeat today, you will likely end up taking medicine for health issues tomorrow. It serves as a warning for moderation in eating habits.
One day favor, one day disfavor. To-day in finery, to-morrow in filth. (German.)