గంధము అమ్మిన చోట కట్టెలు అమ్మినట్టు.

gandhamu ammina chota kattelu amminattu.

Translation

Like selling firewood where sandal had been sold. Said of the ruin of what once was beautiful.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone or something has lost its former glory, dignity, or high status. It refers to a decline in quality or a person resorting to menial tasks after having held a prestigious position.

Related Phrases

Like selling firewood where flowers were sold.

This proverb describes a person who has fallen from a high, prosperous, or prestigious status to a lowly or poor condition. It signifies the misfortune of having to do menial work in the same environment where one previously enjoyed success and respect.

For the one who sold his wife, how much of a deal is it to sell his house?

This proverb refers to a person who has already committed a major or shameful act, for whom doing something minor or less significant is no longer a big deal. It is used to describe people who have lost their integrity or moral compass entirely.

Selling firewood in the same place where sandalwood was sold

This expression refers to a situation where a person or a place has fallen from a position of great prestige, prosperity, or high status to a very low or common state. It highlights the contrast between past glory (sandalwood) and current struggle or mediocrity (firewood).

Like selling a horse for boiled grains.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone makes a foolish or lopsided deal, giving away something of high value (a horse) for something of very little value or a temporary craving (boiled grains). It signifies a lack of foresight or poor judgment in business and life decisions.

When everyone sold their properties, the daughter-in-law sold her jewelry without consulting her mother-in-law.

This proverb describes a situation where someone takes a foolish or reckless action based on peer pressure or by following a trend without proper understanding or consultation. It highlights the consequence of acting blindly without looking at the long-term impact or seeking advice from elders/experienced people.

One should not sell firewood in the same place where they once sold flowers.

This proverb emphasizes maintaining one's dignity and self-respect. It suggests that if a person has lived a life of status, prosperity, or high standards (represented by flowers), they should not stoop to a lowly or desperate position (represented by firewood) in the same community. It is often used to advise people to protect their reputation and not settle for less than what they have earned.

Like selling firewood in the same shop where flowers were once sold.

This expression describes a situation where someone who once lived a dignified or prosperous life has now fallen into a lowly or difficult state. It refers to a significant decline in status, quality, or circumstances, comparing the fragrance and beauty of flowers to the ruggedness and toil associated with selling firewood.

Like selling pots in potters' street.

This proverb is used to describe a redundant or futile action where someone tries to sell or teach something to a group of people who are already experts or have an abundance of that specific thing. It highlights a lack of common sense in choosing the right audience for one's skills or goods.

Like selling needles in the blacksmiths' street.

This expression is used to describe a redundant or futile action where someone tries to sell or explain something to experts who already possess superior knowledge or resources in that specific field. It is similar to the English idiom 'carrying coals to Newcastle'.

To carry coals to Newcastle.

Selling the dish and buying toe-rings. He has given the hen for the egg. (German.)

This proverb is used to describe a person who makes a foolish trade-off by giving up something essential or useful for something ornamental or trivial. It refers to misplaced priorities where one sacrifices a basic necessity (a plate for food) for a luxury or a decorative item (toe-rings).