దండు వెడదాము అంటే, పండు తిని వెడదాము అన్నట్టు
dandu vedadamu ante, pandu tini vedadamu annattu
When asked to go to war, one replied let's eat a fruit and then go.
This proverb describes a person who is lazy, hesitant, or makes excuses to delay an urgent or difficult task. It highlights the contrast between the seriousness of a situation (preparing for war) and a trivial or self-indulgent delay (eating a fruit).
Related Phrases
మాసములు ఉండడము
masamulu undadamu
Having months
This expression is used to indicate that a woman is in the advanced stages of pregnancy, literally meaning that several months of the pregnancy have passed and she is nearing full term.
ఆత్మా రావే నూతపడుదాము అంటే, ఆదివారము రోజున అందరమూ పడుదాము అన్నదట
atma rave nutapadudamu ante, adivaramu rojuna andaramu padudamu annadata
When he thought of putting an end to himself, his soul said within him "Let us wait until Sunday and all drown together." The word "All" refers to the elements of which man is composed.
This proverb highlights procrastination or the tendency to delay an unpleasant or difficult task by suggesting a later time or involving more people to avoid immediate action. It is used to mock someone who makes excuses or tries to turn a personal responsibility into a group event to stall for time.
Sunday is a propitious day. Judge well before you act. Consideration is the parent of wisdom.
పుట్టడము చావడము కొరకే
puttadamu chavadamu korake
To be born is but for death.
This expression reflects a philosophical view on the cycle of life and death. It is used to remind others that death is an inevitable outcome of birth and that one should not be overly attached to worldly life or fear the end, as it is a natural law of existence.
మూలము అంటే, నిర్మూలము అంటాడు.
mulamu ante, nirmulamu antadu.
When one said "root" the other said "rot." One attempted to explain, the other pooh poohed him.
This expression is used to describe someone who is extremely argumentative, contrary, or perverse. When one person suggests a basic starting point or a cause (root), the other person immediately suggests destroying it or going to the opposite extreme just to be difficult.
ఉబ్బుమొగమువాడు ఊరు వెడదామంటే రెప్పలేనివాడు రేపు వెడదామన్నాడట
ubbumogamuvadu uru vedadamante reppalenivadu repu vedadamannadata
When the one with a swollen face wanted to leave town, the one without eyelids said let's go tomorrow.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where two people with similar flaws or limitations collaborate to procrastinate or avoid a task. It highlights how people who share the same excuses often encourage each other to delay work, even when the task is necessary. It is used to mock the tendency of lazy or incapable people to find common ground in making excuses.
ఎడాపెడా
edapeda
This way and that way
This expression is used to describe doing something randomly, recklessly, or excessively in all directions. It often describes a flurry of actions like scolding someone continuously, hitting someone repeatedly, or spending money lavishly without a plan.
అడ్డెడు తవ్వెడు బియ్యము ఇచ్చి, అమ్మా నీ ప్రసాదము అన్నట్టు
addedu tavvedu biyyamu ichchi, amma ni prasadamu annattu
Like giving [ a cook ] two and a half measures of rice and saying, " Madam, this is your gift." The cook gets four-fifths of the rice for herself, and yet she must be coaxed to cook the food. The allusion is to a traveller endeavouring to get some person to cook for him.
This proverb describes a situation where someone gives a very small or insignificant amount of their own resources to a deity or a person, but then acts as if the subsequent benefit or the entire resulting entity is a grand gift or blessing from that recipient. It is used to mock people who take credit for 'generosity' using things that were already minimal or belong to others, or those who try to claim a large spiritual or social reward for a tiny, trivial contribution.
ఈదమంటే కోదమన్నట్లు
idamante kodamannatlu
When asked to swim, asking to jump into the water instead.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is asked to do a simple or necessary task, but they respond by suggesting something else entirely or by making an irrelevant, stubborn, or counterproductive counter-offer. It highlights a lack of understanding or willful deflection.
వేస్తివిరా కన్నము అంటే, చేస్తివే కాపరము అన్నట్టు
vestivira kannamu ante, chestive kaparamu annattu
" So you've broken into the house, have you ?" [ said a wretched woman to a burglar ] " So you live in great style, do you ?" [ replied the thief ]. Disappointed expectations.
This proverb describes a situation where someone caught doing something wrong or illegal tries to act as if they have a legitimate right to be there or are doing something permanent and honorable. It is used to mock people who give ridiculous justifications for their obvious misdeeds or those who overstay their welcome shamelessly.
అత్తా రావే నూతిలో పడదాము అంటే, ఆదివారం అందరమూ పడదాము అన్నదట.
atta rave nutilo padadamu ante, adivaram andaramu padadamu annadata.
When the daughter-in-law said, 'Mother-in-law, come let us jump into the well', the mother-in-law replied, 'Let us all jump on Sunday'.
This proverb is used to describe procrastination or the act of postponing a task (often an unpleasant or impulsive one) by setting a specific future date. It highlights how people use logic or scheduling to delay actions they aren't truly committed to, or simply the habit of turning a private matter into a public event to avoid immediate execution.