కుడుము చేతికివస్తే పండుగనేవాడు
kudumu chetikivaste panduganevadu
A person who considers it a festival whenever he gets a kudumu (steamed dumpling) in his hand.
This expression describes a person who lacks foresight or long-term planning, finding complete satisfaction in small, immediate gains. It is used to mock someone who is easily pleased by minor, temporary comforts and forgets about the future or larger goals.
Related Phrases
పెత్తనానికి పోతే, దుత్త చేతికి వస్తుంది
pettananiki pote, dutta chetiki vastundi
If you go to exercise authority, you will end up with a pot in your hand
This proverb is used to warn against interfering in others' affairs or trying to show off authority where it isn't needed. It suggests that such overreaching behavior often leads to losing one's dignity or ending up with menial tasks (symbolized by the 'dutta' or small pot). It is used to advise someone to mind their own business to avoid embarrassment.
ఉడుము పోయినా చెయ్యి వస్తే చాలును.
udumu poyina cheyyi vaste chalunu.
Never mind if I lose the guana, if I get my hand out it's enough.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where one is willing to give up a potential gain or an asset just to escape from a dangerous or stuck position. It signifies that safety and liberation are more important than the original objective when things go wrong.
Said by a man whose hand had been caught by a guana in a hole. Catching a Tartar.
దండుగలో పండుగ
dandugalo panduga
A festival in the middle of a loss
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone finds a small reason to celebrate or gains a minor benefit amidst a significant loss or a wasteful expenditure. It refers to making the best of a bad situation or finding a silver lining in a calamity.
ఐశ్వర్యం వస్తె అర్ధరత్రి గొడుగు పట్టమనేవాడు.
aishvaryam vaste ardharatri godugu pattamanevadu.
The neorich person demands an umbrella to be held for him even at night.
A person, who acquires riches suddenly, makes unreasonable demands, as his riches go to his head and make him arrogant. One should be poised and maintain emotional balance, when fortune smiles on him.
నీ అరచేతికి పండ్లు వస్తే చూద్దాం
ni arachetiki pandlu vaste chuddam
When teeth grow in the palm of your hand, I'll listen to you.
This expression is used sarcastically to express strong skepticism about someone's boastful claims or unlikely promises. It implies that what the person is saying is as impossible as a tree growing and bearing fruit in the palm of a hand.
ఇల్లు అలకగానే పండుగా?
illu alakagane panduga?
With a mere dung wash of the floor the festival is not complete.
On festival eve, the earthen floors are given a dung wash. But there must be several other tasks to be performed for the festival. The practice is still extant in villages. The use of dung is part of rural economy as well as a hygienic practice, fast fading out.
పండిన దినమే పండుగ
pandina diname panduga
The day the crop ripens is the festival day.
This expression is used to convey that the real celebration or reward occurs only when efforts yield fruit. It emphasizes that success and prosperity are the true causes for celebration, rather than just the arrival of a calendar date.
పాత తంగేడు పువ్వు పండుగ నాటికైనా పనికివస్తుంది.
pata tangedu puvvu panduga natikaina panikivastundi.
An old Tangedu flower will be useful at least on the day of the festival.
This proverb highlights that even something old or seemingly useless can find its value during a specific occasion or time of need. It is often used to suggest that one should not discard old items or ignore old resources, as their importance might be realized later.
పండుగ పైన దండుగ
panduga paina danduga
An extra expense on top of a festival expense
This expression is used to describe a situation where an unexpected or unnecessary additional expense occurs at a time when one is already spending heavily, typically during a celebration or crisis. It signifies the burden of 'wasteful' costs added to already high costs.
దండుగకు ఒప్పదురుగాని, పండుగ కొప్పరు
dandugaku oppadurugani, panduga kopparu
They agree to a penalty but not to a festival.
This expression is used to describe people who are willing to spend money on useless things, penalties, or unnecessary losses but hesitate or refuse to spend money on something auspicious, joyful, or beneficial. It highlights poor priorities and the irony of people's spending habits.