గడ్డం వపనముచ్యతే
gaddam vapanamuchyate
My beard will be fit for shaving. Said by a goat to a lion which he threatened to devour to fulfil a vow.
This is a humorous or sarcastic expression used when someone performs a task or a ritual incompletely, or when they try to pass off a simple action as a significant achievement. It is often used to mock someone who performs only the easiest part of a job while ignoring the essential or difficult parts.
Related Phrases
అడ్డం తప్పుకో అంటే గడ్డం పట్టుకో అన్నట్టు
addam tappuko ante gaddam pattuko annattu
When asked to move out of the way, they grabbed the beard instead.
This proverb describes someone who behaves perversely or does the exact opposite of what is requested. It is used when a person responds to a simple request with an annoying or inappropriate action, or when someone misunderstands a situation so badly that they become a nuisance.
అందానికి పెట్టిన సొమ్ము, ఆపదకు అడ్డం వస్తుంది.
andaniki pettina sommu, apadaku addam vastundi.
Ornaments worn for beauty will be useful in the time of want.
This proverb highlights the dual purpose of investing in gold or jewelry. While it serves to enhance one's appearance (beauty), it also acts as a financial safety net that can be sold or mortgaged during difficult times or emergencies. It is used to justify the practice of buying jewelry as a form of saving.
అందానికి పెట్టిన సొమ్ము ఆపదకు అడ్డం వస్తుంది.
andaniki pettina sommu apadaku addam vastundi.
Wealth spent on beauty (ornaments) will come in handy during a crisis.
This proverb highlights the practical value of investing in jewelry or gold. While ornaments are primarily worn for beauty, they serve as a financial safety net that can be easily liquidated or used as collateral when one faces unexpected difficulties or emergencies.
రాట్నం వచ్చింది బండి అడ్డం తీయరా అన్నాడట
ratnam vachchindi bandi addam tiyara annadata
He said the spinning wheel has arrived, move the cart out of the way.
This proverb is used to mock someone who exaggerates the importance of a small or insignificant object or event. It describes a situation where a person demands a lot of space or attention for something tiny (like a spinning wheel), treating it as if it were a massive vehicle (like a cart).
అరవై ఏళ్ళ అన్నంభట్టు అద్దం చూచి బిద్దం బిద్దం అంటే, అదీ వాళ్ళమ్మకు ఆశ్చర్యం వేసింది.
aravai ella annambhattu addam chuchi biddam biddam ante, adi vallammaku ashcharyam vesindi.
When the sixty-year-old Annambhattu looked in the mirror and said 'Biddam Biddam', his mother was still surprised.
This proverb is used to mock people who pretend to be innocent or childlike long after they have grown up, or to describe parents who refuse to acknowledge their adult children's maturity, treating their obvious or foolish behavior as something special or cute.
మాధుకరం వానింటికి ఉపాదానం వాడు పోయినట్లు
madhukaram vanintiki upadanam vadu poyinatlu
Like a person who collects raw offerings (upadanam) going to the house of a person who survives on cooked alms (madhukaram).
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone seeks help or resources from someone who is in an even more desperate or needy position than themselves. It highlights the irony and futility of asking for assistance from those who lack the means to support even their own needs.
కొంగవంటి ధ్యానముచే తన కోర్కెలు నెరవేరునా?
kongavanti dhyanamuche tana korkelu neraveruna?
Will one's desires be fulfilled by practicing meditation like a crane?
This expression criticizes hypocrisy and fake devotion. A crane stands still on one leg, appearing to be in deep meditation, but it is actually just waiting for a fish to prey upon. It implies that superficial or deceitful focus, driven by hidden selfish motives rather than genuine virtue, will not lead to true success or fulfillment.
శేరుడు చాతెడు, చెప్పెడు మూతెడు
sherudu chatedu, cheppedu mutedu
A seer's worth of spreading, but only a lid's worth of grain.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where there is a lot of empty noise, bragging, or grandiosity, but very little actual substance or result. It refers to a person who makes a lot of fuss or takes up a lot of space while delivering very little.
ఋణము, రణము ఒకటే.
rinamu, ranamu okate.
Debt and war are the same.
This proverb highlights the destructive nature of financial debt, comparing it to a battlefield. Just as war brings anxiety, struggle, and potential ruin, being in debt creates constant stress and can destroy one's peace of mind and livelihood.
అడ్డం పడితే గడ్డం లోతే, బోర్లపడితే పుక్కిటిలోతే
addam padite gaddam lote, borlapadite pukkitilote
If falling on the back, the depth is up to the chin; if falling face down, the depth is up to the mouth.
This expression describes a situation where there is no escape or safe outcome regardless of how one approaches a problem. It is used to describe a 'no-win' scenario or extreme danger where even the smallest stumble leads to total disaster. It highlights a state of being completely surrounded by peril or being in very shallow water but still drowning.