గుమ్మడికాయ పోయిన తావు గుర్తులేదుగాని, ఆవగింజ పోతే అడుక్కు తిన్నదంట
gummadikaya poyina tavu gurtuledugani, avaginja pote adukku tinnadanta
She doesn't remember where the pumpkin was lost, but when a mustard seed was lost, she begged and ate.
This proverb describes a person who is extremely careless or indifferent about significant losses but makes a huge fuss over trivial or insignificant things. It is used to mock someone's lack of perspective or misplaced priorities.
Related Phrases
గుమ్మడికాయ పోయేదారి తెలియక ఆవగింజకు అల్లాడినట్లు.
gummadikaya poyedari teliyaka avaginjaku alladinatlu.
Like worrying over a lost mustard seed while being unaware of the lost pumpkin.
This proverb describes a person who stresses over trivial, minor losses or details while completely ignoring a much larger, more significant problem or loss. It is used to point out a lack of perspective or misplaced priorities.
ఆవగింజ అట్టె దాచి గుమ్మడికాయ గుల్లకాసుగా ఎంచేవాడు
avaginja atte dachi gummadikaya gullakasuga enchevadu
A man who saves a mustard seed and thinks a pumpkin worth a shell-coin. Penny wise and pound foolish. They drink their water by measure, but eat their cake without. (Greek.)
This expression describes a person who is 'penny wise and pound foolish.' It refers to someone who is obsessively careful about trivial, tiny matters (the mustard seed) but remains completely negligent or wasteful regarding large, significant things (the pumpkin).
ఆవగింజంత భూమి ఉన్నదెనేని గుమ్మడికాయంత వెజ్జిపెట్టు.
avaginjanta bhumi unnadeneni gummadikayanta vejjipettu.
If one owns land the size of a mustard seed, they will face a hole the size of a pumpkin.
This proverb highlights the burdens and complications that come with property ownership. It suggests that even the smallest amount of asset or land brings disproportionately large problems, taxes, or disputes along with it.
నూరు తిట్టినా ఒక గుమ్మడికాయ ఇస్తే సరి
nuru tittina oka gummadikaya iste sari
Even if you scold a hundred times, it is enough if you give one pumpkin.
This proverb is used to describe someone who is willing to endure verbal abuse or harsh criticism as long as there is a tangible material gain or reward at the end. It highlights the preference for practical benefits over temporary insults.
ఆవగింజ అట్టెదాచి, గుమ్మడికాయ కుప్పమీద వేసినట్లు
avaginja attedachi, gummadikaya kuppamida vesinatlu
Hiding a mustard seed while throwing a pumpkin onto the pile
This expression refers to people who are extremely stingy or careful about small, trivial expenses but reckless or wasteful with large, significant ones. It describes a 'penny wise, pound foolish' mentality where someone tries to save a tiny amount while losing a fortune due to negligence or poor judgment.
రొట్టె లేదు గానీ, నెయ్యి ఉంటే అద్దుకుని తిందును అన్నాడట
rotte ledu gani, neyyi unte addukuni tindunu annadata
He said he doesn't have bread, but if there were ghee, he would dip it and eat.
This proverb is used to mock people who make grand plans or express desires for luxuries when they lack even the basic necessities. It describes a situation where someone is worrying about an accompaniment (ghee) while the main requirement (bread) is missing, highlighting a lack of practicality or a tendency to daydream beyond one's means.
కడవడంత గుమ్మడికాయ అయినా కత్తిపీటకు లోకువ.
kadavadanta gummadikaya ayina kattipitaku lokuva.
Although the pumpkin be as big as a large pot, yet it is subject to the kitchen knife. Gummadi kāya is the Cucurbita Maxima. However great a family a wife may come from, she must still be sub- ject to her husband.
This proverb highlights that size or status does not matter when faced with the right tool or authority meant to handle it. It is used to describe situations where a small but powerful entity (like a blade or a person in authority) can easily manage or control something much larger or seemingly superior.
గుమ్మడికాయ పోయే దారి ఎరగడు, ఆవగింజ పోయే దారి అట్టే పట్టి చూస్తాడు
gummadikaya poye dari eragadu, avaginja poye dari atte patti chustadu
He does not know the way the pumpkin goes, but troubles himself to find the way the mustard seed goes.
This proverb describes a person who fails to notice large, significant losses or obvious mistakes (represented by the pumpkin) but spends excessive effort worrying about or analyzing trivial, insignificant matters (represented by the mustard seed). It is equivalent to the English idiom 'Penny wise, pound foolish'.
గుమ్మడికాయలో ఆవగింజంత
gummadikayalo avaginjanta
Like a mustard seed in a pumpkin
This expression is used to describe a situation where the work accomplished or the progress made is insignificantly small compared to the magnitude of the task remaining. It highlights a vast disproportion between what was intended or required and what was actually achieved.
గుమ్మడికాయంత తెలివికంటే, గురిగింజంత అదృష్టం మేలు
gummadikayanta telivikante, guriginjanta adrishtam melu
A tiny seed's worth of luck is better than a pumpkin's worth of intelligence
This proverb highlights that even immense intelligence or talent can sometimes be overshadowed by a small amount of good fortune. It is used to describe situations where hard work and wisdom fail to achieve what a lucky break manages to accomplish instantly.