ఏకదంతుండిచ్చు నీకింత బొచ్చు

ekadantundichchu nikinta bochchu

Translation

The single-tusked one (Ganesha) gives you this much hair.

Meaning

This is a humorous and sarcastic expression used to describe a situation where someone expects a grand reward or divine intervention but receives something trivial, worthless, or disappointing. It is often used to mock someone's meager offerings or the insignificant results of a supposedly great effort.

Related Phrases

When asked if they eat chickens, they replied saying they throw away the feathers.

This expression describes a situation where someone gives an evasive or indirect answer to hide an obvious truth. It is used when a person tries to appear innocent or avoids a direct 'yes' by focusing on a trivial secondary detail that implies the 'yes' anyway.

When asked how a quarrel starts, the priest replied, 'Give me alms, you bald widow!'

This proverb describes a situation where someone intentionally initiates a conflict by being unnecessarily rude or provocative. It is used when a person deliberately uses offensive language to spark a fight, even when there is no prior reason for an argument.

If you burn hair will it become charcoal ? Vain economy.

This expression is used to describe a futile or impossible task. It implies that certain actions will never yield the desired or expected result because the nature of the material or situation doesn't allow for it. Just as burning hair produces ash and a foul smell rather than useful charcoal, some efforts are simply a waste of time.

Will the fiber/hair eaten by the grandfather last for generations?

This expression is used to criticize someone who lives off their ancestors' past glory or wealth without contributing anything new. It implies that inherited resources or reputation will not last forever and that one must work to sustain themselves rather than relying solely on the past.

If you burn hair, will it become charcoal?

This proverb is used to indicate that certain things or people cannot be transformed into something valuable, no matter how much effort is put into changing them. Just as burning hair results in ash and a foul smell rather than useful charcoal, some base natures or useless materials cannot be turned into something productive.

When a ram was sacrificed for the sake of showing off, the whole body ended up covered in hair.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone performs a grand or expensive action just for vanity or to show off, but instead of gaining prestige, they end up with a messy, troublesome, or useless result. It highlights the folly of prioritizing appearances over practical outcomes.

Like going to Benares, and bringing back dog's hair.

This proverb is used to describe someone who goes on a long, arduous journey or undertakes a significant task, only to return with something trivial, worthless, or useless. It highlights the irony of putting in great effort for a meaningless result.

Great labour and small results.

A slushy pit for cattle, a hidden grain storage pit for the farmer.

This proverb highlights how resources or environments are utilized differently based on necessity. Just as a muddy area serves as a resting spot for cattle, a farmer uses a deep, concealed pit (pathara) to safely store and preserve harvested grain from pests and theft. It refers to the resourcefulness of rural life and the importance of secure storage for one's livelihood.

The man of the house knows Virataparvam, my brother-in-law knows Bhagavatam, and I know a bit of 'donudugu' from here and there.

This is a humorous proverb used to describe someone who has no real knowledge or depth of their own but tries to sound learned by picking up scraps of information from others. It mocks superficial knowledge or the habit of pretending to know things by imitating others without understanding the substance.

When asked 'How do quarrels start, O holy man?', he replied 'Give me alms, you bald widow!'

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone deliberately provokes a conflict or starts an argument unnecessarily. It highlights how a person can turn a peaceful inquiry or a normal interaction into a fight by using offensive language or being intentionally rude.