కల్ల పసిడికి కాంతి మెండు
kalla pasidiki kanti mendu
False gold is very bright. All is not gold that glitters.
This expression means that things which are artificial or fake often appear more attractive and flashy than the original or genuine ones. It is used to caution someone against being deceived by outward appearances or superficial brilliance, emphasizing that true value is often subtle while falsehood tries hard to impress.
Related Phrases
అజీర్ణానికి ఆకలి మెండు.
ajirnaniki akali mendu.
For indigestion, hunger is plentiful.
This proverb refers to a condition where one feels frequent or excessive hunger despite having indigestion or a stomach upset. Metaphorically, it is used to describe a situation where someone who is incapable or lacking in substance makes excessive demands or shows greedy desire for more than they can handle.
కట్టిన ఇంటికి కణుకులు మెండు
kattina intiki kanukulu mendu
A house already built has many critics.
This proverb is used to describe how people find numerous faults or suggest unnecessary improvements only after a task is completed. It is similar to the English expression 'Hindsight is 20/20' or 'Everyone is a master after the event.'
వట్టి గొడ్డుకు అరుపులు మెండు, వరపుటేటికి మెరుపులు మెండు.
vatti godduku arupulu mendu, varaputetiki merupulu mendu.
The barren cow bellows much, and in the year of drought there is much thunder. Much smoke and little roast. (Italian.) All talk and no go.
This proverb describes people who possess little knowledge or substance but make the most noise or display. Just as a cow that doesn't give milk moos loudly, and a riverbed during a drought may produce lightning or illusions of water without providing actual relief, empty or incompetent people often brag or shout the loudest to hide their lack of worth.
గోనెల కంటే గోతులు మెండు
gonela kante gotulu mendu
The pits are more numerous than the gunny bags.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the resources or solutions available are far fewer than the problems or needs that exist. It is often applied to financial situations where one's debts or holes (gothulu) are much larger than their savings or bags of wealth (gonelu).
గంపసిడి కాదు, గాలపు సిడి
gampasidi kadu, galapu sidi
Not a basket of gold, but a hook's trap.
This expression is used to describe a situation that looks very attractive or rewarding at first glance (like a basket of gold) but is actually a dangerous trap or a deceptive scheme (like a hook/snare). It warns against being lured by appearances without considering the underlying danger.
కల్లపైడికి కటికులు మెండు
kallapaidiki katikulu mendu
Fake gold attracts many critics.
This proverb is used to describe how superficial or fake things/people often have a lot of noise, show, or observers around them. Just as fake gold requires many 'examiners' or 'cutters' (katikulu) to test it, falsehood often comes with excessive complications or people trying to verify/critique it, whereas truth or real gold stands silently on its own merit.
కల్ల పసిడికి గరుకులు మెండు
kalla pasidiki garukulu mendu
False gold is very rough.
This proverb means that items or people lacking genuine quality often overcompensate with excessive outward show or boastfulness. Just as impure gold requires more processing or hides behind a rough exterior, an incompetent person often makes the most noise or displays more arrogance than a person of true substance.
గోనెలకంటే గోతాలు మెండు.
gonelakante gotalu mendu.
There are more small sacks than big ones.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where there are more advisors or supervisors than actual workers. It points out an imbalance where there is an abundance of secondary or unnecessary things compared to the primary essentials, similar to the English expression 'Too many chiefs and not enough Indians.'
కానిదానికి కష్టం మెండు, చెల్లని కాసుకు గీతలు మెండు
kanidaniki kashtam mendu, chellani kasuku gitalu mendu
Difficulty is plenty for the impossible; scratches are plenty on a worthless coin.
This proverb is used to describe things or people that are useless or ineffective but require an excessive amount of effort or come with unnecessary complications. It highlights that a task that doesn't yield results often feels more burdensome, just as a counterfeit or worthless coin often has more markings or scratches than a genuine one.
కానిదానికి కలతలు మెండు
kanidaniki kalatalu mendu
For that which is not meant to be, troubles are many
This expression is used to describe a situation or a project that is destined to fail or is inherently problematic. It suggests that when something is not right or is 'ill-fated', one will encounter an excessive number of obstacles and complications. It is often said when someone is struggling with a task that seems to be going wrong at every turn.