కొట్టి గింజంత కోడలిని చూస్తే, కొండంత జ్వరం వచ్చిందట
kotti ginjanta kodalini chuste, kondanta jvaram vachchindata
Seeing the daughter-in-law who is as small as a grain, she got a fever as big as a mountain.
This proverb describes a situation where someone is extremely intimidated or frightened by another person, even if that person appears small or insignificant. It is often used to mock someone who is unnecessarily afraid of a newcomer or a subordinate, or to highlight a dynamic where a seemingly weak person actually holds significant power over others.
Related Phrases
కొండంత దూదికి కొండంత నిప్పు యేల?
kondanta dudiki kondanta nippu yela?
Why a mountain of fire to [burn down] a mountain of cotton? A little fire burns up a great deal of corn.
This proverb implies that a small spark is enough to destroy a massive problem if applied correctly. It is used to suggest that one does not need excessive force or resources to tackle a task that has an inherent vulnerability.
గోరంత ఉంటే కొండంత చేస్తాడు
goranta unte kondanta chestadu
When it is as small as a finger nail, he makes a mountain of it. To make a mountain of a mole-hill.
This expression is used to describe someone who has a habit of exaggerating small, insignificant matters or trivial issues into major problems or grand stories. It is equivalent to the English idiom 'to make a mountain out of a molehill'.
కొండంత దేవుడికి కొండంత పత్రి పెట్టగలమా?
kondanta devudiki kondanta patri pettagalama?
Can we offer mountain-sized leaves to a mountain-sized God?
This expression is used to acknowledge that one's offerings or gratitude can never truly match the magnitude of the help or blessings received. It is often said humbly when offering a small gift or gesture to someone of great stature or to a deity, implying that while the offering is small, the devotion is large.
కొండంత దేవుణ్ని కొండంత పత్రితో పూజ చేస్తారా?
kondanta devunni kondanta patrito puja chestara?
Do they offer to a god as great as a mountain, leaves and flowers as much as a mountain? A worshipper is accepted according to his faith, not according to greatness of his offering.
This expression highlights that some things are practically impossible or unnecessary even if they seem logically proportional. It is used to explain that one's devotion or service should be sincere and appropriate to their capacity, rather than trying to match the immense scale of the person or deity being honored with literal material equality.
హస్త ఆదివారం వచ్చింది.
hasta adivaram vachchindi.
The Hasta (star) Sunday has arrived.
This expression is often used as a lighthearted or humorous response when someone says they have no money. It refers to a play on the word 'Hasta', which is an astrological star but also means 'hand' in Sanskrit. The phrase implies that the hand is empty or that one has reached a state of financial 'emptiness' on a specific day.
కడుపునిండా గారెలు తింటే, వంటినిండా జ్వరము
kadupuninda garelu tinte, vantininda jvaramu
If you eat a bellyful of cakes, [you will get] a bodyful of fever.
This proverb warns about the consequences of overindulgence and greed. It suggests that excessive consumption of heavy or rich food leads to illness and physical suffering. It is used to advise moderation in eating habits and to highlight that momentary pleasure can lead to long-term discomfort.
గోరంత ఉంటే కొండంత చేస్తాడు
goranta unte kondanta chestadu
If it is as small as a fingernail, he makes it as big as a mountain.
This expression is used to describe a person who has a habit of exaggerating things or blowing small issues out of proportion. It is similar to the English idiom 'to make a mountain out of a molehill'.
అత్త చచ్చిన ఆరు మాసములకు కోడలి కంట నీరు వచ్చినదట
atta chachchina aru masamulaku kodali kanta niru vachchinadata
Six months after the death of the mother-in-law, tears came into the eyes of the daughter-in-law.
This proverb describes a situation where a person shows a delayed, insincere, or hypocritical emotional reaction. It is used to mock someone who pretends to care about a loss or an event long after it happened, or when their reaction is clearly performative rather than genuine.
గోరంత దీపం కొండంత వెలుగు
goranta dipam kondanta velugu
The lamp (wick) is of the size of a nail; illumination the size of a hill.
Even a small lamp can give a wide glow. Physical size does not always lead to insignificant actions. It is the largeness of purpose that makes the act big.
నరం వంటి వాడికి జ్వరం వస్తే, చేయి జూచినవాడు బ్రతుకడు
naram vanti vadiki jvaram vaste, cheyi juchinavadu bratukadu
If a man made of nerves gets a fever, the one who checks his pulse will not survive.
This expression is used to describe an extremely irritable, short-tempered, or hypersensitive person. It implies that the person is so volatile that even a minor provocation (fever) would cause them to lash out so fiercely that anyone trying to help or interact with them (checking the pulse) would be in danger.