దానా దండుగే గాని, దమ్మిడీ పనికాదు.
dana danduge gani, dammidi panikadu.
A waste of fodder, but not even a dammidi's worth of work.
This proverb is used to describe someone who consumes a lot of resources (like food or money) but contributes absolutely nothing in terms of productivity. A 'dammidi' was a coin of the smallest denomination in ancient India. It is typically used to criticize laziness or inefficiency.
Related Phrases
దమ్మిడీ పెళ్ళికి ఏగాని భోగం మేళం
dammidi pelliki egani bhogam melam
An Egany (higher value coin) dance troupe for a Dammidi (lowest value coin) wedding.
This expression is used to describe a situation where the incidental or secondary expenses far exceed the actual value of the main event or asset. It highlights poor financial planning or an absurd disproportion between the core purpose and the extravagant overheads.
దండుగలో పండుగ
dandugalo panduga
A festival in the middle of a loss
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone finds a small reason to celebrate or gains a minor benefit amidst a significant loss or a wasteful expenditure. It refers to making the best of a bad situation or finding a silver lining in a calamity.
మొగుడిని చూస్తే దండుగ, మిండని చూస్తే పండుగ
mogudini chuste danduga, mindani chuste panduga
Seeing the husband is a waste, seeing the lover is a festival.
This is a bold, satirical proverb used to describe a person who neglects their duties or legitimate relationships (like a husband) in favor of forbidden or exciting external attractions (like a lover). It is used to mock people who find no value in the things they already possess but are overjoyed by things that are fleeting or improper.
తుదను దండుగనిడి మొదలు చెడు నరుండు.
tudanu danduganidi modalu chedu narundu.
Paying a penalty at the end, the person ruins the beginning.
This expression describes a person who, due to negligence or poor decision-making at the start of a task, ends up failing or suffering losses, eventually being forced to pay a penalty or face regret at the end. It is used to caution against poor planning or lack of foresight.
తాగేది దమ్మిడీ గంజాయి, ఇల్లంతా చెడు ఉమ్ములు
tagedi dammidi ganjayi, illanta chedu ummulu
He smokes half a farthing's worth of Ganjâyi, and fouls the whole house with spittle. Ganjâyi (Hind. Gānjhā) is the hemp plant (Cannabis Sativa) the leaves or young leaf-buds of which are bruised and smoked to produce intoxica- tion. In its liquid form it is called Bhang.—A Dammidi is the twelfth of an aṇṭā (anna). Great injury caused by a little evil.
This proverb describes a person who possesses very little or performs a minor task but creates a disproportionately large mess, nuisance, or disturbance for everyone else. It is used to criticize someone whose small, often bad habits or insignificant actions cause great inconvenience to those around them.
మిండల కొడుకుల సంపద దండుగలకే గాక దాన ధర్మములగునా
mindala kodukula sampada dandugalake gaka dana dharmamulaguna
Will the wealth of a paramour's sons be used for charity rather than for fines?
This proverb suggests that wealth acquired through immoral or ill-gotten means will only be wasted on useless expenses or penalties (dandugalu) rather than being spent on noble causes like charity or religious deeds. It is used to remark that money earned dishonestly never serves a good purpose.
దమ్మిడీ ముండకు ఏగాని క్షవరం
dammidi mundaku egani kshavaram
A half-cent widow gets a one-cent haircut.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the cost of a service or a solution far exceeds the value of the object or person being attended to. It highlights extravagance, poor financial planning, or a mismatch between the value of a thing and the expenses incurred upon it.
తాగేది దమ్మిడి గంజాయి, ఇల్లంతా చెడ ఉమ్ములు.
tagedi dammidi ganjayi, illanta cheda ummulu.
Consuming a penny's worth of cannabis, but spitting everywhere and ruining the whole house.
This proverb describes people who perform a very small or insignificant task but create a massive nuisance or boast excessively about it. It is used to mock someone who makes a big deal out of a minor action or someone whose small habits cause disproportionately large negative consequences for others.
పండుగ పైన దండుగ
panduga paina danduga
An extra expense on top of a festival expense
This expression is used to describe a situation where an unexpected or unnecessary additional expense occurs at a time when one is already spending heavily, typically during a celebration or crisis. It signifies the burden of 'wasteful' costs added to already high costs.
ఘడియ తీరుబాటు లేదు, దమ్మిడి ఆదాయం లేదు.
ghadiya tirubatu ledu, dammidi adayam ledu.
Not a moment of leisure, not a penny of income.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is extremely busy and hardworking, yet their efforts yield no financial gain or productive results. It highlights a state of being pointlessly or unprofitably occupied.