ఇల్లు కట్టి చూడు, పెళ్లి చేసి చూడు

illu katti chudu, pelli chesi chudu

Translation

Try building a house, try making a marriage. An expense greater than contemplated. Building and the marrying of children are great wasters.

Meaning

This proverb highlights that building a home and organizing a marriage are the two most challenging and resource-intensive tasks in a person's life. It suggests that one only understands the true extent of the effort, financial strain, and unforeseen difficulties involved once they actually undertake these responsibilities.

Related Phrases

O Jackal! Jackal! look at my Nāmam, if you look again see my Tirumani. —Tirumani ( lit. sacred earth ) is the name given to the outer lines, made with white clay, of the Nāmam.

This expression is used to describe a cunning or deceptive person who tries to distract others with religious or righteous appearances while hiding their true intentions. It refers to someone who uses superficial symbols of piety to cover up their deceitful nature, often used when someone is being hypocritically holy.

Wait and see the beauty of the village, but examine my beauty day by day. Said by an ugly man in a dirty village.

This expression is used to describe something that reveals its true value or quality over a long period rather than immediately. It implies that while the charm of a place (the village) might be constant, the person's own worth, skills, or beauty will become increasingly apparent as time passes.

Try building a house, try performing a wedding.

This proverb highlights the two most challenging, resource-intensive, and complex tasks in a person's life: constructing a home and organizing a marriage. It suggests that one only understands the true extent of the effort, patience, and financial strain involved once they personally undertake these responsibilities.

Adorn the child and look at it, whitewash the wall and look at it.

This proverb highlights how external adornments can dramatically enhance natural beauty. Just as a plain wall looks bright and beautiful after being whitewashed, a girl looks exceptionally radiant when adorned with jewelry. It is used to describe the transformative power of decoration and grooming.

Look at the cheeks of one who rose from ruins, look at the clothes of one who fell from prosperity.

This proverb highlights how past circumstances leave a mark. A person who was once poor but became wealthy will have a healthy, glowing face (cheeks) due to current nourishment, yet their humble beginnings might still be reflected in their lifestyle. Conversely, a person who was once rich but is now poor will still try to maintain their dignity and status through their neat, albeit old, clothing.

Open your eyes wide before marriage, but after marriage, keep them half-closed and act as if you see but don't see.

This proverb advises individuals to be extremely cautious and observant while choosing a life partner. However, once married, it suggests that one should be tolerant and overlook minor faults or imperfections in their spouse to maintain a harmonious and happy relationship.

Stay and see the beauty of the village, watch my beauty grow day by day

This expression is used to describe a person who initially appears humble or unassuming, but as time passes, their true (often negative, arrogant, or troublesome) nature reveals itself. It is a sarcastic way of saying that someone's real character or 'true colors' become more evident the longer you know them.

Look at the cheeks of one who rose from ruin, and look at the clothes of one who fell from prosperity.

This proverb highlights the physical and visible remnants of a person's past circumstances. Someone who was once poor but became wealthy often retains a healthy, glowing appearance (plump cheeks) from their new prosperity. Conversely, someone who was once wealthy but lost everything often tries to maintain their dignity by wearing their old, high-quality clothes, which are now worn out or reflect their former status.

Try all of those, then try putting me in.

This proverb is specifically used regarding salt in cooking. It implies that no matter how many other ingredients or spices you add to a dish, it will not be flavorful or complete until salt (the speaker in this personification) is added. It is used to highlight the indispensable nature of a specific person or element in a situation.

Look at the finery of the well dressed and the strut of the poorly dressed woman.

This proverb is used to mock people who have very little but show off excessively. It compares someone wearing a beautiful saree (who has a right to be graceful) to someone wearing a mere piece of cloth or a rag but acting overly proud or vain. It highlights the irony of arrogance in those with meager means or status.