గురువులు వస్తున్నారంటే, గోచులిప్పి తోరణాలు కట్టమన్నారట
guruvulu vastunnarante, gochulippi toranalu kattamannarata
When told the teachers were coming, they were asked to untie their loincloths to make decorative buntings.
This proverb describes a situation where someone acts with excessive or foolish enthusiasm to please someone in authority, even at the cost of their own dignity or basic needs. It is used to mock people who provide overboard, illogical, or self-destructive hospitality/service just to show off their devotion.
Related Phrases
రాణీగారు వచ్చారు రాగి సంకటి పెట్టమన్నారట
ranigaru vachcharu ragi sankati pettamannarata
The queen has arrived and supposedly asked for Ragi Sankati (finger millet porridge).
This sarcastic expression is used when someone acts superior or puts on airs of royalty, but their requests or needs are very basic or humble. It highlights the contradiction between one's high status/attitude and the simple reality of a situation.
తాతాచార్యులేం చేస్తున్నారంటే తప్పులు చేసి దిద్దుకుంటున్నారు
tatacharyulem chestunnarante tappulu chesi diddukuntunnaru
When asked what Tatacharyulu is doing, he is making mistakes and then correcting them.
This expression is used to describe someone who repeats the same mistakes over and over, or someone who engages in unproductive work that involves creating a problem just to fix it. It highlights a cycle of useless effort or a lack of real progress.
భోగం వీధి కొల్లబోయిందంటే, సన్నాసులు గోచులు విప్పకొని బయలుదేరారట
bhogam vidhi kollaboyindante, sannasulu gochulu vippakoni bayaluderarata
When it was said that the brothel street was being looted, the monks started running while untying their loincloths.
This proverb is used to mock hypocritical people who claim to be pious or detached from worldly desires, but are actually the first to rush toward temptation or greed when an opportunity arises. It highlights the gap between one's outward appearance of holiness and their internal desires.
ఏమయ్యా మావారు బాగున్నారా అంటే అమ్మా బాగానే ఉన్నారు, విత్తనాలు, వడ్లు తింటున్నారు. దాపుడు బట్టలు కడుతున్నారు అన్నాడట.
emayya mavaru bagunnara ante amma bagane unnaru, vittanalu, vadlu tintunnaru. dapudu battalu kadutunnaru annadata.
When a woman asked, 'Sir, is my husband doing well?', the man replied, 'Yes mother, he is doing well; he is eating the seeds and grains meant for sowing, and he is wearing the funeral clothes.'
This satirical proverb describes a situation where someone is outwardly claimed to be 'doing well' while actually being in a state of utter ruin or misery. It is used to mock people who try to paint a positive picture of a disastrous situation, or to describe someone who is surviving by consuming their future resources (seeds) and dignity (funeral clothes).
ఏడు కరువులు వస్తున్నాయిరా అంటే, తొలికరవులోనే పోతే, మిగత ఆరు ఏం చేస్తాయి అన్నాడట.
edu karuvulu vastunnayira ante, tolikaravulone pote, migata aru em chestayi annadata.
When told that seven famines are coming, he asked, 'If I die in the very first one, what will the other six do?'
This proverb is used to mock someone who displays extreme laziness, a lack of foresight, or a fatalistic attitude. Instead of preparing for a long-term challenge, the person dismisses the concern with a cynical or foolish remark, suggesting that if they don't survive the initial difficulty, the subsequent ones don't matter anyway. It highlights a lack of responsibility or an 'ignorance is bliss' mindset.
ఏనుగులను అప్పుగా ఇస్తున్నారంటే, రెండు తోలుకొని వచ్చి కట్టివేయమన్నాడట.
enugulanu appuga istunnarante, rendu tolukoni vachchi kattiveyamannadata.
When told that elephants were being given as loans, he asked to bring two of them and tie them up.
This proverb describes a person's extreme greed and lack of foresight. It refers to someone who accepts anything offered for free or as a loan—even something as expensive and difficult to maintain as an elephant—without considering whether they can afford the upkeep or repay the debt. It is used to mock people who blindly take things just because they are available, ignoring the future consequences.
చుట్టమని చూడవస్తే, యింటివారంతా దయ్యాలై పట్టుకొన్నారట
chuttamani chudavaste, yintivaranta dayyalai pattukonnarata
When he paid a visit to his relations, they all caught hold of him like devils. To get something out of him.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone goes to help or visit someone with good intentions, but ends up being treated poorly or harassed by everyone there. It highlights a complete lack of hospitality or a situation that turned unexpectedly hostile.
పేలికైనా పిండి కట్టమన్నారు
pelikaina pindi kattamannaru
They said to wrap flour even in a rag.
This expression emphasizes the importance of saving or being prepared for the future, no matter how small or humble one's resources are. It suggests that even if you have only a torn piece of cloth (a rag), use it to store a bit of food for a rainy day. It is used to advocate for frugality and the habit of saving.
ఉపాధ్యాయుల వారు ఏం చేస్తున్నారు అంటే రాసిన తప్పులు దిద్దుకుంటున్నారట
upadhyayula varu em chestunnaru ante rasina tappulu diddukuntunnarata
When asked what the teacher is doing, they said he is correcting the mistakes he wrote himself.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is supposed to be an expert or a guide makes basic mistakes and spends their time fixing their own errors instead of helping others. It satirizes incompetence in positions of authority or expertise.
ఊళ్ళోకి రాజుగారు వస్తున్నారంటే, పెళ్లాము వంక అనుమానంగా చూసినట్లు
ulloki rajugaru vastunnarante, pellamu vanka anumananga chusinatlu
When it is said the King is coming to the village, looking at one's wife suspiciously.
This proverb describes an absurd or extreme level of insecurity and over-cautiousness. Historically, powerful figures were feared for taking whatever they desired; however, doubting one's own spouse just because a powerful person enters the vicinity represents irrational anxiety or a lack of trust. It is used to mock someone who anticipates a problem that is highly unlikely or reacts disproportionately to a situation.