గుడ్డి కంటికి కుంచెడు కాటుక

guddi kantiki kunchedu katuka

Translation

A bucketful of kohl for a blind eye

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe an act of excessive waste or unnecessary decoration on something that is fundamentally broken or useless. It highlights the irony of spending resources to enhance something that cannot benefit from the enhancement, similar to 'putting lipstick on a pig' or 'pearls before swine.'

Related Phrases

Like applying mascara to a blind eye

This expression is used to describe a futile action or an effort that serves no purpose. Just as applying kohl or mascara to a blind eye does not improve sight or serve an aesthetic purpose for the wearer, this phrase refers to doing something that is wasted or useless in a given context.

When the mother gave her daughter a kuncham of grain, the daughter set before her mother a dishful of food.

This expression describes a situation where kindness or generosity is met with even greater reciprocity. It highlights a cycle of mutual affection and hospitality between family members, specifically how a small gesture from one side is returned more abundantly by the other.

Kindness returned. Once never loseth by doing good turns. Kindness produccs kindness. ( Latin. )*

The shouts of an Asadi have no meaning, and a blind eye has no sight.

This proverb is used to describe speech or actions that are completely nonsensical or useless. Just as it is impossible for a blind eye to see, it implies that certain talk (historically referring to the loud, rhythmic, but sometimes unintelligible chanting of the Asadi folk performers) lacks substance or logic. It is used to dismiss someone's words as noise without value.

Speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil

This is the Telugu version of the famous 'Three Wise Monkeys' principle. It serves as an ethical maxim advising people to lead a virtuous life by avoiding participation in, or exposure to, bad influences, gossip, and negativity.

There is no meaning to fortunetelling words, and there is no sight in a blind eye.

This proverb is used to describe nonsense, gossip, or irrelevant talk that lacks substance or logic. Just as it is impossible for a blind eye to see, it is impossible to find any truth or value in idle chatter or superstitious predictions.

There is no medicine for innate character and a blind eye.

This proverb means that some things are permanent and cannot be changed. Just as medical treatment cannot restore sight to a blind eye, no amount of advice or medicine can change a person's inherent nature or character flaws. It is used when someone refuses to change their bad habits despite many warnings.

Infection to the eye, pain to the body

This expression is used to describe a situation that is extremely annoying, constant, and difficult to ignore. Just as an eye infection causes persistent discomfort and a body ache makes one restless, this phrase refers to a person or a problem that causes continuous irritation or trouble.

When given a 'kunchedu' (a measure) because she is the daughter, she gave back a 'kanchedu' (a plateful) because she is the mother.

This proverb describes a situation where a generous gesture is met with an even smaller or insufficient return, or conversely, a competition in stinginess. It is used to highlight instances where someone expects more due to a relationship but receives something vastly different or inferior, or when two people try to outsmart each other in being miserly.

There is no justice in oppression, and no sight in a blind eye.

This proverb is used to describe people who act with arrogance, tyranny, or brute force. It implies that just as it is naturally impossible for a blind eye to see, it is impossible for a person acting out of sheer dominance or malice to follow the path of justice or ethics.

A Kunçam of raw-rice and a gourd. A modest request. A thousand Brahmins went on an auspicious occasion to bless the king and on being asked how much rice and vegetable they would each have for their meal, replied as above. The king angry and disgusted at their greediness ordered that each should be forced, with the penalty of his life, to eat the whole quantity demanded. The Brahmins however cheated the king at the suggestion of a cunning Kômaṭi, by distributing one Kunçam of rice and one pumpkin at a time among the whole number of men.

This expression is used to describe an uneven or disproportionate exchange, or a situation where a lot of resources are consumed for a single item. In a traditional sense, it refers to the heavy requirement of rice needed to accompany a large pumpkin curry, signifying that one thing necessitates a large amount of another to be useful.