చీరగట్టినమ్మ సింగారం ఏమిచూస్తావు, ఏలికలు గట్టినమ్మ ఎగిరింతలు చూడు
chiragattinamma singaram emichustavu, elikalu gattinamma egirintalu chudu
Why look at the beauty of the woman wearing a saree, look at the leaps of the woman wearing rags.
This proverb is used to highlight that people who have nothing to lose or are in a desperate state often act with more vigor, boldness, or recklessness than those who are well-settled and bound by decorum. It is a sarcastic remark comparing the modest grace of the privileged to the frantic energy of the underprivileged or the desperate.
Related Phrases
ఇస్తినమ్మ వాయనం, పుచ్చుకుంటినమ్మ వాయనం
istinamma vayanam, puchchukuntinamma vayanam
I gave the offering, dear lady; I received the offering, dear lady.
This expression describes a situation where a task or ritual is performed purely for the sake of formality without any real impact, progress, or meaningful exchange. It is often used to mock someone who returns a favor or a debt immediately just to get it over with, or when something is given and taken back so quickly that the whole transaction becomes pointless.
ఇచ్చితినమ్మా వాయనం అంటే, పుచ్చుకుంటినమ్మా వాయనం అన్నట్టు
ichchitinamma vayanam ante, puchchukuntinamma vayanam annattu
When one says 'I have given the offering, mother', the other says 'I have received the offering, mother'
This proverb describes a situation where two people are in a hurry to finish a task or a ritual without any genuine interest or sincerity. It is used when both parties are merely 'going through the motions' to get a job over with as quickly as possible, often resulting in a superficial or perfunctory outcome.
ఇచ్చినమ్మ ఈగ, పుచ్చుకొన్నమ్మ పులి
ichchinamma iga, puchchukonnamma puli
The giver is a housefly, the receiver is a tiger.
This proverb highlights the irony and unfairness in certain transactions or interpersonal dynamics. The person who gives or lends something is often timid, weak, or hesitant (like a fly) when asking for it back, while the person who received it becomes aggressive, demanding, or fierce (like a tiger) when it is time to return the favor or the item.
కుట్టినమ్మ కుదుట్లో ఉంటే, కూసినమ్మ గయ్యాళి
kuttinamma kudutlo unte, kusinamma gayyali
While the one who sewed is in the corner, the one who shouted is called a shrew.
This proverb describes a situation where the person who actually did the hard work remains quiet or unrecognized, while the person who merely made a lot of noise or complained is unfairly labeled as difficult or aggressive. It is used to point out ironies in social recognition and how vocal people are often judged differently than those who work silently.
బంగారం కొద్దీ సింగారం
bangaram koddi singaram
The decoration is proportional to the gold available.
This proverb means that the quality or extent of a result depends on the resources or effort invested. It is used to describe situations where you get exactly what you pay for, or where the outcome is limited by the budget or materials provided.
ఇల్లులేనమ్మ హీనము చూడు మగడులేనమ్మ మానము చూడు
illulenamma hinamu chudu magadulenamma manamu chudu
Look at the wretchedness of a woman without a house; look at the loss of dignity of a woman without a husband.
This traditional proverb reflects historical social perspectives where a house and a husband were considered the primary sources of security, status, and protection for a woman. It is used to describe how the lack of basic shelter or social support leads to vulnerability and loss of social standing.
చీర కట్టినమ్మ శృంగారం చూడు, గుడ్డ కట్టినమ్మ కులుకు చూడు
chira kattinamma shringaram chudu, gudda kattinamma kuluku chudu
Look at the grace of the woman wearing a saree, and look at the vanity of the woman wearing a rag.
This proverb is used to criticize someone who lacks merit or status but acts with excessive pride or vanity compared to someone who is genuinely dignified. It highlights the irony of someone with very little acting more arrogant than someone who is well-off or naturally graceful.
చిన్నమ్మ చిందేస్తే చీరదారి చీరది, సింగారం దారి సింగారానిది
chinnamma chindeste chiradari chiradi, singaram dari singaranidi
When the little lady dances wildly, the saree takes its own path and the jewelry takes its own.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone's reckless or uncontrolled actions lead to total chaos, where everything falls out of place or falls apart. It highlights how lack of discipline or excessive behavior results in losing one's dignity or organized state.
చీర కట్టినమ్మ శృంగారము చూడు, గుడ్డ కట్టినమ్మ కులుకు చూడు.
chira kattinamma shringaramu chudu, gudda kattinamma kuluku chudu.
Look at the finery of the well dressed and the strut of the poorly dressed woman.
This proverb is used to mock people who have very little but show off excessively. It compares someone wearing a beautiful saree (who has a right to be graceful) to someone wearing a mere piece of cloth or a rag but acting overly proud or vain. It highlights the irony of arrogance in those with meager means or status.
తీగ పెట్టినమ్మ మాట తీయగా, కమ్మపెట్టినమ్మ మాట కమ్మగా, విచ్చుటాకులున్నమ్మా నీమాట విన సహించదు అన్నదట.
tiga pettinamma mata tiyaga, kammapettinamma mata kammaga, vichchutakulunnamma nimata vina sahinchadu annadata.
The words of the one who gave a creeper are sweet; the words of the one who gave a leaf-stalk are savory; but the words of the one who has blooming leaves are unbearable to hear.
This proverb highlights human psychology and bias based on self-interest. It refers to a person who praises those who have given them something (even something small like a vegetable creeper or a palm leaf) while being critical or intolerant of those who have plenty but have not shared anything with them yet. It is used to describe how people's perceptions of others are often colored by the benefits they receive.