ఎప్పుడూ ఎరగనోడు ఏతాము తొక్కితే ఏటా ఆరుబారల అప్పు.
eppudu eraganodu etamu tokkite eta arubarala appu.
If one who has never done it works the water-lift, there will be six cubits of debt every year.
This proverb describes the consequences of an inexperienced person attempting a task they are not qualified for. It signifies that when an unskilled person manages a project or business without the necessary knowledge, they will likely incur losses or cause damage rather than achieving the desired result. It highlights the importance of expertise and experience.
Related Phrases
గుడ్డివాడు అలుకు తొక్కినట్లు
guddivadu aluku tokkinatlu
Like a blind man stepping on wet dung floor-wash.
This expression describes a situation where someone performs a task haphazardly, clumsily, or without any sense of direction or awareness. It is used when someone's actions are messy and lack the precision or skill required for the job.
వెర్రివాడు ఏతం తొక్కినట్లు
verrivadu etam tokkinatlu
Like a fool operating a water lever
This expression is used to describe a person who continues to do a task mechanically or pointlessly without knowing when to stop or understanding the purpose of the work. Just as a foolish person might keep treading a water lever (etam) even after the fields are flooded or the vessel is empty, it refers to mindless repetition or inefficient effort.
తోట మూడు బారలు, కాయ ఆరు బారలు
tota mudu baralu, kaya aru baralu
The garden is three spans long, but the fruit is six spans long.
This proverb is used to describe a situation that is highly exaggerated, impossible, or where the result/accessory is disproportionately larger or more significant than the source itself. It is often used to mock someone who tells tall tales or unrealistic stories.
లోకం ఎరగని వాడు, అలంకారం ఎరగని ఆడది కొరగారు
lokam eragani vadu, alankaram eragani adadi koragaru
A man who doesn't know the ways of the world and a woman who doesn't know how to present herself are useless.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of social awareness and self-presentation. It suggests that a person who lacks worldly knowledge or common sense (a naive person) and a person who neglects their appearance or social etiquette are often disregarded or ineffective in society.
ఏనుగులు ఏట కుంకితే, పాటిరేవు అడుగవచ్చిందట నక్క
enugulu eta kunkite, patirevu adugavachchindata nakka
When elephants were bathing in the river, a fox came to check if the water level had decreased.
This proverb is used to mock people with limited abilities or status who try to compare themselves to great people or interfere in matters far beyond their capacity. Just as a fox's presence is irrelevant to the water displaced by giant elephants, small-minded people cannot affect or measure the impact of great individuals.
ఆచారం ఆరుబారలు, గోచిపాత మూడు బారలు
acharam arubaralu, gochipata mudu baralu
Customs are six fathoms, but the loincloth is only three fathoms.
This proverb is used to mock people who display excessive outward religious or traditional strictness while failing to maintain basic decency or practical standards. It highlights the hypocrisy of those who talk big about rules and traditions but lack the fundamental means or character to follow them properly.
అన్నీ ఎరిగినోడు అమావాస్యనాడు చస్తే, ఏమీ ఎరగనోడు ఏకాదశినాడు చచ్చాడట.
anni eriginodu amavasyanadu chaste, emi eraganodu ekadashinadu chachchadata.
If a man who knows everything died on a New Moon day, a man who knows nothing died on Ekadashi.
This proverb is used to mock people who make ironic or illogical comparisons between themselves and others. It specifically satirizes situations where a foolish or ignorant person happens to achieve something (like dying on an auspicious day like Ekadashi) that a wise person did not, or when someone tries to claim superiority through pure coincidence despite their lack of merit.
నక్కకొమ్ము తొక్కి వచ్చినాడు
nakkakommu tokki vachchinadu
He came after stepping on a fox's horn
This expression is used to describe someone who is exceptionally lucky or experiencing a sudden stroke of great fortune. Since foxes do not actually have horns, finding or 'stepping' on one is considered a mythical omen of extreme prosperity and success in Telugu folklore.
కోడి కొత్త అప్పులు చేయిస్తుంది, వండి పాత అప్పులు తీరుస్తుంది
kodi kotta appulu cheyistundi, vandi pata appulu tirustundi
A hen causes new debts, but its cooked meat clears old debts.
This proverb is used to describe investments or ventures that require upfront borrowing or initial expenditure but eventually yield high enough profits to cover both the new and old debts. It highlights the value of productive assets.
ఐదో ఏట అప్పంబొట్లు అడ్డగోడ పట్టుకొని అబ్బా అంటే అరుచోద్య పోయినారట
aido eta appambotlu addagoda pattukoni abba ante aruchodya poyinarata
When Appambotlu, at the age of five, held a wall and cried 'Abba', people were supposedly amazed.
This proverb is used to mock people who act surprised or impressed by something that is completely normal or expected. A five-year-old child being able to hold a wall and call out to their father is a basic developmental milestone, not a miracle. It highlights the tendency of some to exaggerate trivial occurrences as if they are great wonders.