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'.
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).
గోరుతో గిల్లే దానికి గొడ్డలి ఎందుకు?
goruto gille daniki goddali enduku?
Why an axe for that which can be done with a fillip of the nail?
This expression is used to suggest that small problems should be solved with simple solutions rather than overreacting or using excessive force. It highlights the importance of efficiency and choosing the right tool or approach for the task at hand.
Unnecessary labour.
దారినపోయే దానయ్య
darinapoye danayya
Danayya who is passing by the way.
Refers to a random passerby, a stranger, or someone who has no connection to the matter at hand. It is often used to describe someone who gets unnecessarily involved in a situation or when a person blames a random stranger for an incident.
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.
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.
కట్టె వంక పొయ్యే తీరుస్తుంది
katte vanka poyye tirustundi
The fire in the stove straightens the bend in the wood.
This proverb suggests that certain flaws, stubborn behaviors, or crooked traits in a person can only be corrected through harsh experiences, punishment, or the ultimate reality of life. Just as heat makes a bent stick straight or consumes it, difficult circumstances or strict discipline are sometimes the only ways to reform a difficult character.
నోట్లో ఆవగింజ దాగదు
notlo avaginja dagadu
Even a mustard seed cannot be hidden in his mouth. A gossipping fellow who repeats all he hears.
This expression is used to describe someone who cannot keep a secret. Just as a tiny mustard seed is hard to keep still in one's mouth, this person feels a restless urge to reveal any information or secrets they hear to others immediately.
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.
ఏనుగు పోయే దారి ఎటుగడు కానీ, దోమలు పోయే దారిలో తొంగున్నాడు.
enugu poye dari etugadu kani, domalu poye darilo tongunnadu.
It doesn't matter which way the elephant goes, but he is lying down in the path where mosquitoes go.
This proverb is used to describe a person who ignores major, significant problems or opportunities (the elephant) and instead focuses all their attention on trivial, insignificant matters (the mosquitoes). It highlights a lack of priority and wasting effort on petty issues.