కదుటిలో పడదు, దిండులోనూ పడదు.
kadutilo padadu, dindulonu padadu.
Neither falling into the spinning wheel nor falling into the pillow.
This expression describes a state of indecision or a situation where someone is stuck between two choices and ends up benefiting from neither. It is used when a person is inconsistent, unreliable, or fails to commit to a specific path, resulting in total unproductive outcome.
Related Phrases
గుడ్డివాడి చేతి నూలు కదుట్లో పడుతుందో దిండులో పడుతుందో.
guddivadi cheti nulu kadutlo padutundo dindulo padutundo.
Whether the thread in a blind man's hand falls on the spindle or on the pillow.
This expression is used to describe a situation where the outcome is purely a matter of chance or luck rather than skill or certainty. It refers to an unpredictable result where one cannot be sure if an effort will hit the target or miss it completely.
అరుంధతీ కనపడదు, అధ్వాన్నమూ కనపడదు, అరవై వరహాల అప్పు మాత్రము కనపడుతున్నది.
arundhati kanapadadu, adhvannamu kanapadadu, aravai varahala appu matramu kanapadutunnadi.
I can't see the star Arundhati, botheration take it! I can see nothing but a debt of sixty pagodas. Said by a man who had got over head and ears in debt for his marriage, when the priest pointed out the propitious star.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is so overwhelmed by their financial troubles or immediate material problems that they cannot focus on spirituality, beauty, or traditional rituals. 'Arundhati' refers to the star often pointed out during weddings as a symbol of virtue; here, it signifies spiritual or higher pursuits that are ignored due to the crushing weight of debt.
ఆకును అందదు, పోకను పొందదు
akunu andadu, pokanu pondadu
It reaches not the leaf, it suits not the nut. Quite inadequate.
This expression is used to describe someone or something that is caught in the middle and is useless for either of two intended purposes. It refers to the preparation of a betel leaf (pan), where one fails to get both the leaf and the areca nut, rendering the effort futile. It is often applied to people who are indecisive or situations that lack clear direction and utility.
నూతిలో పడబోయి తాడు వెదకినట్లు
nutilo padaboyi tadu vedakinatlu
Like searching for a rope after falling into a well.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone acts too late or starts searching for a solution only after the disaster has already occurred. It highlights a lack of foresight and the futility of being unprepared.
ఆడదానికీ ఆయనకూ ఆమడదూరం
adadaniki ayanaku amadaduram
Distance of eight miles between the woman and her husband.
This expression is used to describe a couple who are legally married but live separately or have no emotional or physical connection. It signifies a state of total estrangement or a complete lack of intimacy in a relationship.
అత్తా! నా రాట్నం ఆపకుండా చూడు, కదుటి దిండులో దారం పడకుండా చూడు.
atta! na ratnam apakunda chudu, kaduti dindulo daram padakunda chudu.
Mother-in-law! Watch that my spinning wheel doesn't stop, and see that the thread doesn't get caught in the spindle's cushion.
This proverb describes a person who delegates all the actual work and responsibility to others while pretending to be the one in charge or the one performing the task. It is used to mock someone who gives orders and takes credit without doing any of the hard labor themselves.
తూగి ముందుకు పడడు, తాగి వెనకకు పడడు.
tugi munduku padadu, tagi venakaku padadu.
He does not lean forward while drowsy, and he does not fall backward while drunk.
This expression describes a person who is extremely clever, calculating, and avoids making mistakes even in compromised situations. It refers to someone who maintains their composure or strategic advantage under any circumstances, never losing their balance or giving others an opportunity to take advantage of them.
రాత్రి పడ్డ గతిలో పగలు కూడా పడనా?
ratri padda gatilo pagalu kuda padana?
Shall we fall in the day time into the pit into which we fell at night? Shall we not benefit by experience ? Bought wit is best. Experience teaches. (Latin.):
This proverb is used to express that once someone has learned from a past mistake or a bad experience (the 'night'), they will be more cautious and avoid the same pitfall in the future (the 'day'). It signifies learning a lesson and becoming wiser.
* Mulgere hircum. † A mal nudo mal cuo. I Experientia docet.
ఊరి మీద నూరు పడ్డా, కరణము మీద కాసు పడదు
uri mida nuru padda, karanamu mida kasu padadu
Though a hundred [pagodas] be levied from the village, not a cash will be paid by the Karanaṁ. A cash ( కాసు ) is 1-60th of an Anna. The instrument of oppression does not himself suffer.
This proverb describes a situation where an influential person or authority figure remains unaffected by the troubles or financial burdens that plague the community they oversee. It is used to highlight systemic corruption or the cleverness of bureaucrats who ensure their own safety and wealth while others suffer losses.
పానము పాడైపోయినా, ప్రాణము కుదుట పడదు.
panamu padaipoyina, pranamu kuduta padadu.
Even if the drink/vessel is ruined, the life (breath) does not settle down.
This expression is used to describe a state of extreme anxiety, restlessness, or deep distress where no amount of material loss or external change can calm a person's inner turmoil. It highlights a situation where one's peace of mind is so severely disturbed that they cannot find comfort even after a crisis has passed or a sacrifice has been made.