ఢిల్లీకి పోయి ఉల్లిగడ్డ తెచ్చినట్లు
dhilliki poyi ulligadda techchinatlu
Like going all the way to Delhi just to bring back an onion.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone puts in an enormous amount of effort, time, or resources, only to achieve a very trivial or insignificant result. It highlights the disproportion between the struggle and the outcome.
Related Phrases
కాశీకి పోయి గాడిద గుడ్డు తెచ్చినట్లు.
kashiki poyi gadida guddu techchinatlu.
Like going to Kashi and bringing back a donkey's egg.
This expression is used to mock someone who undertakes a long, arduous journey or puts in significant effort, only to return with something useless, non-existent, or disappointing. Since donkeys do not lay eggs, it highlights the absurdity and futility of the person's claim or achievement after a grand endeavor.
కాశీకిపోయి కొంగరెట్ట తెచ్చినట్టు.
kashikipoyi kongaretta techchinattu.
Like going to Kashi and bringing back stork droppings.
This proverb is used to describe someone who goes to a great distance or undertakes a significant journey/effort, but returns with something worthless or fails to achieve anything meaningful. It highlights the irony of putting in immense effort for a trivial or useless outcome.
గుత్తికిపోయి గూటం తెచ్చుకొన్నట్లు.
guttikipoyi gutam techchukonnatlu.
Like going for a bunch (of flowers/fruit) and bringing back a club.
This proverb describes a situation where someone goes out expecting a benefit or a pleasant outcome but returns with something harmful or a punishment instead. It is used to mock poor decision-making or bad luck where an attempt to gain something resulted in a loss.
కాశీకి పోయి కుక్కపిల్లను తెచ్చినట్లు
kashiki poyi kukkapillanu techchinatlu
Like going to Kashi and bringing back a puppy.
Used to describe a situation where someone goes on a great, significant journey or puts in immense effort, only to achieve something trivial, useless, or even negative. It highlights the disparity between the effort expended and the poor outcome achieved.
గోకి దురద తెచ్చుకొన్నట్లు
goki durada techchukonnatlu
Like scratching and inviting an itch.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone unnecessarily interferes in something or creates a problem for themselves where there wasn't one before. It is similar to the English idiom 'To look for trouble' or 'To stir a hornet's nest'.
ఉల్లిగడ్డంత కోడలు వస్తే, వలికలో ఉన్న అత్త ఉలికి ఉలికి పడ్డదట
ulligaddanta kodalu vaste, valikalo unna atta uliki uliki paddadata
When a daughter-in-law as small as an onion arrived, the mother-in-law hiding in the storage basket kept trembling with fear.
This proverb describes a situation where a person in a position of power or seniority is irrationally intimidated by a new, seemingly insignificant, or small arrival. It is used to mock those who are overly suspicious, insecure, or fearful of change or new competition, even when the 'threat' is tiny or harmless.
కాశీకి వెళ్లి కుక్క చెప్పులు తెచ్చినట్లు
kashiki velli kukka cheppulu techchinatlu
Like going to Kashi and bringing back dog sandals
This proverb describes a situation where someone goes to a great deal of trouble, effort, or travels a long distance for a very noble or significant purpose, but ends up bringing back something trivial, useless, or base. It is used to mock people who waste major opportunities or resources on insignificant outcomes.
మంచి ఉల్లిగడ్డకు మంచి బొడ్డు.
manchi ulligaddaku manchi boddu.
A good onion has a good navel (core).
This proverb is used to describe something or someone that is of high quality both inside and out. Just as the quality of an onion is determined by its core, the character of a person or the integrity of a thing is judged by its inner essence. It suggests that true quality is consistent throughout.
ఢిల్లీకి ఢిల్లీ, పల్లెకు పల్లె
dhilliki dhilli, palleku palle
Delhi to Delhi, village to village. Great people with great, little with little.
This expression emphasizes that every place or person has their own distinct importance, status, and rules. It is used to suggest that one should not compare things that are fundamentally different in scale or nature, or to imply that everyone is a 'king' in their own territory.
పేడలో పొదిగిన ఉల్లిగడ్డ
pedalo podigina ulligadda
Like an onion set in cow-dung. A bad man in like company.
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely healthy, sturdy, and strong, or someone who remains unaffected and thrives even in humble or messy surroundings. Just as an onion grown in manure becomes very pungent and firm, this refers to someone with a robust constitution.