చింతకాయలు తిన్న నోరు కొట్టులు తిననగునా?
chintakayalu tinna noru kottulu tinanaguna?
Can a mouth that has eaten tamarinds eat bits of wood?
This proverb describes a fall from grace or a significant decline in one's standard of living. It suggests that someone who was once accustomed to a comfortable or luxurious life (symbolized by tasty tamarinds) finds it difficult or unbearable to settle for a life of extreme poverty or hardship (symbolized by eating dry wood/scraps).
Related Phrases
భంగు తిన్న కోతివలె
bhangu tinna kotivale
Like a monkey that has consumed bhang (cannabis)
This expression is used to describe a person who is acting in an erratic, restless, or uncontrollably hyperactive manner. Just as a monkey is naturally restless, adding an intoxicant like bhang would make its behavior completely unpredictable and wild; hence, it refers to someone behaving in a chaotic or senseless fashion.
దోసకాయలు తిన్న కడుపు, దొంగలు పడ్డ ఇల్లు ఒకటే.
dosakayalu tinna kadupu, dongalu padda illu okate.
A stomach filled with cucumbers and a house robbed by thieves are the same.
This proverb highlights that certain efforts or possessions provide no lasting value or substance. Just as a stomach feels full after eating cucumbers but becomes empty very quickly due to their high water content, a house after a robbery is left with nothing. It is used to describe situations that result in emptiness or a lack of substantial benefit despite initial appearances.
సంగీతమునకు చింతకాయలు రాలునా?
sangitamunaku chintakayalu raluna?
Will singing make the tamarinds drop ?
This proverb is used to say that mere words, sweet talk, or artistic expressions cannot achieve practical or physical results that require hard work or action. It highlights the difference between theory/art and the practical effort needed to get a job done.
వంకర టింకర కాయలు ఏమిటివి అంటే, చిన్ననాడు అమ్మిన చింతకాయలు అన్నాడట
vankara tinkara kayalu emitivi ante, chinnanadu ammina chintakayalu annadata
When she asked "What are those crooked pods?" they re- plied "The unripe tamarinds you sold in your youth." The story goes that the daughter of very poor parents who in her youth had to go about selling the unripe tamarinds she was able to gather from under the trees, afterwards became the wife of a rich man. Passing through the streets one day in her grand palankin, she superciliously enquired what a tamarind girl was selling, when her bearers replied as above, "These are the tamarinds Madam, which you sold in your youth." To take one a peg lower. You used to be a baker though now you wear gloves. (Spanish.)
This proverb is used to describe someone who tries to justify their current mistakes or poor behavior by linking them to past habits or experiences. It also mocks people who give obvious or silly explanations for things that are common knowledge, pretending as if they have discovered something unique.
ఇంటి కోడళ్ళు తిన్నా కోళ్ళు తిన్నా వృథాగా పోవు
inti kodallu tinna kollu tinna vrithaga povu
Whether the daughters-in-law of the house eat or the chickens eat, it will not go to waste.
This proverb suggests that money or resources spent within the family or on its assets are never truly lost. Just as feeding the household's chickens eventually benefits the family (through eggs or meat), food eaten by the family members contributes to the strength and well-being of the household itself. It is used to justify internal expenses that might otherwise seem like a loss.
పట్టిలు తినని కూరగాయలు బాపలకు దానమన్నట్లు
pattilu tinani kuragayalu bapalaku danamannatlu
Like donating vegetables that cows won't eat to the priests.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone 'generously' gives away something that is useless or unwanted by themselves. It highlights hypocritical charity or disposing of junk under the guise of being helpful or religious.
చింతకాయలు ఎరుగని దొరసాని, చింతకాయలను చూచి కొడవళ్ళా అన్నదట
chintakayalu erugani dorasani, chintakayalanu chuchi kodavalla annadata
The lady who had never seen tamarinds asked if they were sickles upon seeing them.
This proverb describes someone who is completely ignorant of common, everyday things but tries to act sophisticated or superior. It is used to mock people who lack practical knowledge or those who make ridiculous assumptions about simple matters due to their lack of exposure.
రాళ్ళు తినే పక్షి రాళ్ళు తింటుంది, రత్నాలు తినే పక్షి రత్నాలు తింటుంది.
rallu tine pakshi rallu tintundi, ratnalu tine pakshi ratnalu tintundi.
The bird that eats stones will eat stones, and the bird that eats gems will eat gems.
This expression refers to the inherent nature and destiny of individuals based on their character and surroundings. It signifies that people will gravitate towards things that match their worth, status, or habits. Just as birds follow their natural diet, humans pursue what they are accustomed to or what they truly deserve.
బొగ్గులు తిన్న నోరు, ఆడిపోసుకున్న నోరు ఊరుకోవు
boggulu tinna noru, adiposukunna noru urukovu
The mouth that ate charcoal and the mouth that criticized others cannot stay quiet.
This proverb highlights that certain bad habits are hard to break. Just as someone who has eaten something messy (charcoal) cannot hide the evidence or stop the discomfort, a person habitual to gossiping or bad-mouthing others cannot restrain themselves from doing it again. It is used to describe people who are prone to constant criticism or spreading rumors.
ముంజలు తిన్నవానికంటే, మోరులు తిన్నవానికే తంటా.
munjalu tinnavanikante, morulu tinnavanike tanta.
The one who ate the palm fibers faces more trouble than the one who ate the palm fruits.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where an innocent person or a person who only handled the leftovers/waste of an act gets into more trouble or faces more blame than the person who actually enjoyed the primary benefit. It highlights the irony of unfair consequences.