దొంగలు తోలిన గొడ్డు ఏ రేవున దాటినా ఒకటే
dongalu tolina goddu e revuna datina okate
It doesn't matter which riverbank a stolen ox crosses.
This proverb implies that once something is stolen or lost to bad actors, the specific path or method of its disappearance becomes irrelevant to the owner. It is also used to describe situations where the final negative outcome is certain, making the minor details of how it happened insignificant.
Related Phrases
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.
దొంగ గొడ్డు మెడకు దుడ్డు కట్టినట్లు
donga goddu medaku duddu kattinatlu
Like tying a heavy stick to the neck of a straying or stolen cattle.
This proverb is used to describe an action taken to restrict someone's movement or to keep a constant watch on a person who is prone to mischief or escaping. Just as a heavy log (duddu) is tied to the neck of a cow that tends to wander away or jump fences, this expression refers to imposing strict controls or burdens to prevent someone from acting out of line.
మాచకమ్మ సమర్త మఖ అయినా ఒకటే పుబ్బ అయినా ఒకటే
machakamma samarta makha ayina okate pubba ayina okate
Machakamma reaching puberty is the same whether it is in Makha or Pubba stars.
This proverb is used to describe a situation or a person's involvement that is completely inconsequential or makes no difference to the outcome. It suggests that certain events are so trivial that the timing or specific circumstances surrounding them do not matter at all.
ఎత్తివచ్చిన కాపురానికి ఏ కాలూనినా ఒకటే.
ettivachchina kapuraniki e kalunina okate.
For a household that has already been uprooted, it doesn't matter which foot you step forward with.
This proverb is used to describe a situation that is already ruined or in complete disarray. It suggests that when someone has already lost everything or is in a desperate state, minor decisions or further misfortunes do not make a significant difference. It is often said when someone is indifferent to further risks because they have already faced the worst.
తనకు పీసిన వెంట్రుకలు ఏరేవులో పోతేనేమి.
tanaku pisina ventrukalu erevulo potenemi.
What does it matter which river the hair I have shed flows into?
This proverb is used to describe a sense of total detachment or indifference towards something that is already lost, useless, or no longer belongs to oneself. It suggests that once a person has discarded something or suffered a loss, the subsequent fate of that object is of no consequence to them.
ఊరక ఉండలేని నా మొగుడు ఊళ్ళో ఉన్నా ఒకటే, దండులో ఉన్నా ఒకటే
uraka undaleni na mogudu ullo unna okate, dandulo unna okate
My useless husband being in the village or being in the army is one and the same.
This proverb describes a person who is so incompetent or lazy that their presence or absence makes no difference. It is used to mock someone whose contribution to a task or society is nil, regardless of the situation they are in.
గుడ్డి కన్ను మూసినా ఒకటే, తెరచినా ఒకటే
guddi kannu musina okate, terachina okate
Whether a blind eye is closed or open, it is all the same.
This expression is used to describe a person or a thing that is completely useless or ineffective. It suggests that the presence or absence of certain actions/tools doesn't matter when the core functionality is missing. It is often used to refer to someone who is indifferent to what is happening around them or an effort that yields no result regardless of the approach.
ముసలి ఆవు పేడ ముడ్డిలో ఉన్నా ఒకటే, దొడ్లో ఉన్నా ఒకటే.
musali avu peda muddilo unna okate, dodlo unna okate.
Whether an old cow's dung is still inside it or in the shed, it is all the same.
This proverb refers to someone or something that has become so old or useless that their actions, presence, or contributions no longer make any practical difference to the situation. It is used to describe a state of total insignificance or irrelevance.
పొదుగులో ఉన్నా ఒకటే, దుత్తలో ఉన్నా ఒకటే
podugulo unna okate, duttalo unna okate
It is the same whether it is in the udder or in the pot.
This expression refers to a state of complacency or lack of urgency regarding a resource that is already secured or 'at hand'. It is used to describe a situation where one feels there is no difference between a resource being in its source (like milk in an udder) or collected (like milk in a pot), implying that since it belongs to them, they can access it whenever they want, often leading to laziness or delayed action.
దొంగలు తోలిన గొడ్డు ఏ రేవున దాటినా ఒకటే
dongalu tolina goddu e revuna datina okate
It matters not which ford was crossed by the stolen ox. When one suffers a loss the cause matters little.
This proverb implies that when something is stolen or obtained illegally, the specific route or method of disposal doesn't matter to the thief, as the end result (the loss for the owner) is the same. It is used to suggest that once a situation is beyond repair or an asset is lost, the minor details of how it happened are irrelevant.