కట్టుకున్న వాడి మీదకంటే పెట్టుకున్న వాడి మీదనే ప్రేమ
kattukunna vadi midakante pettukunna vadi midane prema
There is more love for the one who provides ornaments than for the one who provides the wedding knot.
This proverb is used to criticize people who value material wealth, gifts, or superficial displays of affection over the person who actually provides stability, commitment, and true companionship (like a husband). It highlights human greed or the tendency to favor those who offer temporary luxuries over those who fulfill lifelong responsibilities.
Related Phrases
ఊరంతా వడ్లెండబెట్టుకొంటే, నక్కతోక ఎండబెట్టుకొన్నదట
uranta vadlendabettukonte, nakkatoka endabettukonnadata
While the whole village was drying grain, someone was drying a fox's tail.
This proverb describes a person who does something useless, eccentric, or irrelevant while everyone else is engaged in productive or essential work. It is used to mock people who lack a sense of priority or follow trends in a foolish and meaningless way.
దత్తత మీది ప్రేమ - దాయాది మీది పగ
dattata midi prema - dayadi midi paga
Love for the adopted - Hatred for the kinsman
This proverb contrasts the deep affection shown toward someone brought into the family by choice (an adopted child) with the deep-seated rivalry and animosity often felt toward close relatives or cousins (dayadi) due to property or inheritance disputes. It highlights how people can be more loving to outsiders than their own blood relatives.
తవ్వి మీద తోసుకొన్నట్టు
tavvi mida tosukonnattu
He dug and threw [the earth] on his own head.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone creates a problem for themselves or invites trouble through their own unnecessary actions. It signifies self-inflicted harm or a blunder that results in one's own downfall.
పేదవాడి పెళ్ళాం ఊరికంతా వదిన
pedavadi pellam urikanta vadina
A poor man's wife is a sister-in-law to the whole village.
This proverb highlights how people tend to take liberties with those who lack social or financial standing. Just as a 'Vadina' (sister-in-law) is someone one can joke with or command in a traditional family, a poor person's family is often treated with a lack of respect or boundaries by everyone in society because they lack the power to protest.
పులిని చూసి నక్క వాత పెట్టుకున్నట్టు
pulini chusi nakka vata pettukunnattu
The jackal branded himself with spots like a tiger. Vulgar display. Apeing one's superiors.
This proverb is used to describe a person who foolishly tries to imitate someone superior or more capable than themselves, often resulting in self-harm or ridicule. It highlights the folly of blind imitation without having the inherent nature or strength of the person being copied.
కూతురు మీద ప్రేమ కోడలి మీద ఉంటుందా?
kuturu mida prema kodali mida untunda?
Will the love for a daughter be the same as the love for a daughter-in-law?
This rhetorical question or proverb highlights the natural bias or difference in affection often found in families. It implies that a mother's innate love for her biological daughter is rarely matched by her feelings for her daughter-in-law. It is used to describe situations where there is perceived partiality or to acknowledge that certain bonds are naturally deeper than others.
వంతు పెట్టుకున్నా వాత వేసుకొనేదానికిచ్చి పెట్టుకోవాల
vantu pettukunna vata vesukonedanikichchi pettukovala
Even if you compete, compete for something that is worth getting branded for.
This proverb suggests that if one chooses to compete or strive for something, it should be for a prize or goal that is truly valuable and worth the sacrifice or effort involved. It discourages wasting energy on trivial competitions.
పులిని చూచి నక్క వాతలు పెట్టుకొన్నట్లు
pulini chuchi nakka vatalu pettukonnatlu
Like a fox branding itself with stripes after seeing a tiger.
This proverb is used to describe someone who foolishly tries to imitate others who are naturally superior or more capable, often causing harm to themselves in the process. It highlights the vanity and folly of blind imitation without having the inherent strength or status of the person being mimicked.
గతిలేనివాడు గాడిదకాళ్ళు పట్టుకొన్నట్లు
gatilenivadu gadidakallu pattukonnatlu
Like a helpless man clutching the legs of a donkey.
This expression is used to describe a person who, in a state of absolute desperation or helplessness, seeks assistance from someone completely insignificant, unworthy, or incapable of helping. It highlights the irony and humiliation of being forced to rely on the lowest possible means when one has no other choice.
ఆగ్రహాన ఆనపెట్టుకున్నట్టు
agrahana anapettukunnattu
Like taking an oath in a fit of passion.
This expression describes a situation where someone makes a rash decision or a solemn promise in a fit of rage, which they eventually regret or find difficult to uphold once they calm down. It is used to caution against making life-altering commitments when one is not in a stable emotional state.