గోడ మీది సున్నం విడెములోకి పనికివచ్చునా?
goda midi sunnam videmuloki panikivachchuna?
Will the chunam on the wall be fit for betel leaf? A little fine chunam ( lime ) is commonly eaten with betel. Said of a man who does not serve his friends.
This proverb is used to describe someone who is extremely stingy or miserly. It highlights the futility of trying to use something intended for one purpose (lime used for whitewashing walls) for another more refined purpose (edible lime used in 'paan' or betel leaf preparation) just to save money. It suggests that quality and suitability matter, and being cheap to an extreme is foolish.
Related Phrases
ఓడను విడిచి వరద ఊరికివచ్చునా?
odanu vidichi varada urikivachchuna?
Will the flood leave the boat and come to the village?
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone expects an impossibility or an illogical outcome. It implies that certain consequences are inextricably linked to their source, or that one cannot escape a larger disaster by focusing on minor details. Just as a flood naturally carries a boat, the primary cause dictates the result.
గోడపై సున్నం గోకితే రాదు.
godapai sunnam gokite radu.
If you scrape the lime off the wall, it won't come off.
This expression is used to describe a situation or a person that is extremely stingy or a resource that is completely exhausted. It implies that no matter how much effort you put in, you cannot extract anything of value from someone who has nothing to give or is unwilling to share even the smallest amount.
గోడకు పూసిన సున్నము విడెములోనికి వచ్చునా?
godaku pusina sunnamu videmuloniki vachchuna?
Can the lime painted on a wall be used in a betel leaf preparation?
This proverb is used to describe an irreversible situation or a wasted effort. Just as lime (chuna) applied to a wall cannot be reclaimed for consumption in a 'paan' (videnmu), money spent on useless things or help given to ungrateful people cannot be recovered or put to better use later.
లాభం గూబలలోకి వచ్చింది
labham gubalaloki vachchindi
The profit has come into the drums of the ears. A dealer in gāi suffering from the ear-ache put a little of it into his ears. This was all his profit. Applied to any unprofitable transaction.
This expression is used sarcastically to describe a situation where an attempt to make a profit or gain an advantage has instead resulted in a heavy loss, physical punishment, or a stinging slap. It implies that the outcome was the opposite of what was desired.
వాడి పని గూట్లోకి వచ్చింది.
vadi pani gutloki vachchindi.
His business has come into the niche.
This expression is used to indicate that someone's time is up, or they have reached the end of their rope. It often implies that someone's mischievous deeds or a specific phase of their life/work is coming to an end, or that they are finally caught or cornered.
He is on his last legs.
అన్నము పెట్టినవారిల్లు కన్నము పెట్టవచ్చునా?
annamu pettinavarillu kannamu pettavachchuna?
May you break into the house of him who has fed you ?
This proverb emphasizes the virtue of gratitude and loyalty. It suggests that it is a great sin or an act of extreme betrayal to harm or cheat someone who has helped or supported you during your time of need.
Kannam is a hole made by burglars in the wall of a house.
గోడ ఉంటే చిత్రం గీయవచ్చు
goda unte chitram giyavachchu
If there is a wall you can draw on it.
Health is the primary foundation for any achievement. Just as you need a physical wall to paint a mural, you need a healthy body and life to pursue goals and enjoy success. It is used to emphasize that one's health and existence are the prerequisites for everything else.
అప్పు ఆకలికి వచ్చునా?
appu akaliki vachchuna?
Will a debt be repaid when you are hungry ? Can you ever get a debt repaid when you are in want ?
This proverb is used to emphasize that borrowed money or resources are not a permanent or reliable solution for immediate, basic needs. Just as one cannot rely on the uncertainty of getting a loan when they are starving, one should focus on self-reliance and earning their own living rather than depending on others for essential survival.
గోడ ఉంటేనే కదా చిత్రం గీయగలము
goda untene kada chitram giyagalamu
Only if there is a wall, can a picture be drawn.
This proverb emphasizes that health is the foundation for all achievements. Just as a painting requires a physical wall to exist, a person needs good health and a basic foundation to pursue any goals or ambitions in life. It is often used to remind someone to prioritize their well-being or the basics before attempting complex tasks.
సన్నపని చేయబోతే సున్నం సున్నం అయిందట.
sannapani cheyabote sunnam sunnam ayindata.
When trying to do delicate work, everything turned into lime powder.
This proverb describes a situation where an attempt to perform a very fine or meticulous task backfires, resulting in total destruction or waste of resources. It is used when someone's over-ambition or lack of skill in handling delicate matters leads to a complete mess instead of the intended perfection.