ఎంతెదో నరకడానికే చేంతాడు వెతుకుతున్నాడు
entedo narakadanike chentadu vetukutunnadu
How kind the scamp is, searching for the well-rope!
This proverb is used to describe someone who attempts a monumental task with completely inadequate or inappropriate tools. It highlights the foolishness of not understanding the scale of a problem or using the wrong resources for a specific job.
Said scoffingly by the wife whose husband was looking for the well-rope, not to draw water for her, but to chastise her with.
Related Phrases
గవ్వన్నరకు గడ్డం గొరుగుతానంటే, వెంట్రుకన్నరకు ఎంత అన్నాడట?
gavvannaraku gaddam gorugutanante, ventrukannaraku enta annadata?
When told a beard would be shaved for one and a half cowrie shells, he asked how much it would cost for one and a half hairs.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is extremely stingy or excessively calculative over trivial matters. It mocks someone who tries to negotiate or find a bargain even when the price is already negligibly low, often missing the bigger picture due to their pettiness.
చెవిటి పెద్దమ్మూ చేంత్రాడు తేవే అంటే, చెవుల పోగులు నా జన్మానా యెరగనన్నదట.
cheviti peddammu chentradu teve ante, chevula pogulu na janmana yeraganannadata.
When the deaf old lady was asked to bring the well-rope, she replied "I have never seen earrings in all my life."
This proverb describes a situation where there is a complete lack of communication or relevance in a conversation. It is used when someone gives an answer that is totally unrelated to the question asked, usually due to a misunderstanding, ignorance, or a tendency to focus only on their own personal concerns regardless of the context.
Applied to a stupid person not doing what he is told.
సన్న నూలు వడుకుతున్నాడు
sanna nulu vadukutunnadu
He is spinning fine thread. Wasting away.
This expression is used to describe someone who is acting overly smart, being cunning, or plotting a subtle and intricate plan to deceive others. It implies that the person is meticulously crafting a scheme, much like the patience required to spin very fine thread.
నరకంలో నారాయణుడుంటాడా?
narakamlo narayanuduntada?
Would Narayana (Lord Vishnu) reside in hell?
This expression is used to indicate that one cannot find goodness, peace, or noble people in a place filled with evil or chaos. It suggests that a person's environment dictates what one can expect to find there, or that a divine/pure soul would not be found in a sinful or wretched situation.
వేటుకు వేటు, మాటకు మాట ఉండవలె.
vetuku vetu, mataku mata undavale.
There must be a blow for a blow, and a word for a word. One word brings on another. ( Italian. )
This expression emphasizes the importance of giving a fitting response or retaliation in kind. It suggests that one should be prepared to counter an action with an equal action or an argument with an equal argument, reflecting a sense of justice, tit-for-tat, or maintaining one's dignity in a conflict.
కొండవీటి చేంతాడు
kondaviti chentadu
The well-rope of Kondaveedu
This expression is used to describe something that is excessively long, tedious, or never-ending. It refers to a legendary rope used at the deep wells of the Kondaveedu Fort, implying a task or a story that stretches on indefinitely.
ఎంత దయో నరకడికి, చేటాడు వెతుకుతున్నాడు
enta dayo narakadiki, chetadu vetukutunnadu
How merciful the slaughterer is, he is looking for a winnowing basket.
This expression is used to describe someone who pretends to be kind or helpful while actually being cruel or having ulterior motives. It refers to a slaughterer who, instead of showing true mercy, looks for a winnowing basket to catch the blood or process the remains more efficiently, highlighting hypocrisy.
కొండవీటి చేంత్రాడు
kondaviti chentradu
Like a well-rope at Konḍaviḍu. Where water is very scarce and the wells very deep. Said of a long-winded story.
This expression refers to something that is extraordinarily long, never-ending, or excessively lengthy. It is typically used to describe long stories, speeches, documents, or processes that seem to go on forever without reaching a conclusion.
చెవిటి పెద్దమ్మా చేంత్రాడు తేవే అంటే, చెవుల పోగులు నా జన్మానా యెరగ నన్నదట.
cheviti peddamma chentradu teve ante, chevula pogulu na janmana yeraga nannadata.
When a deaf old lady was asked to bring the well-rope, she replied that she had never known or seen earrings in her life.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone gives a completely irrelevant answer because they didn't understand the question, or when there is a significant communication gap. It highlights the absurdity of 'talking at cross-purposes' where one person's request has nothing to do with the other person's response.
ఎంత దయ దాసులపై అన్నాడు.
enta daya dasulapai annadu.
How much mercy he has on the servants, he said.
This expression is used sarcastically to describe someone who pretends to be compassionate or generous while actually being hypocritical, cruel, or indifferent. It is often used to mock a person's feigned concern for their subordinates or those dependent on them.