కురూపి ఏమి చేస్తున్నావంటే, సురూపాలను వెక్కిరిస్తున్నాను అన్నట్టు
kurupi emi chestunnavante, surupalanu vekkiristunnanu annattu
When an ugly person was asked what they were doing, they said, 'I am mocking the beautiful ones.'
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person who lacks talent, skill, or merit criticizes or mocks those who are superior or successful. It highlights the irony of someone with significant flaws trying to find faults in others who are far better than themselves, often out of jealousy or insecurity.
Related Phrases
పనిలేని పాపరాజు ఏమి చేస్తున్నాడంటే, కుందేటి కొమ్ముకు రేఖలు తీరుస్తున్నాడు అన్నాడట
panileni paparaju emi chestunnadante, kundeti kommuku rekhalu tirustunnadu annadata
When they asked what idle Pâpa Râzu was about, they were told that he was carving lines on a hare's horn.
This expression is used to describe a person who is engaged in completely useless, absurd, or impossible tasks because they have nothing productive to do. Since rabbits do not have horns, 'drawing lines on a rabbit's horn' signifies wasting time on non-existent or futile activities.
కురూపి పొత్తుకంటే సురూపి తిట్టు మేలు
kurupi pottukante surupi tittu melu
An insult from a beautiful person is better than the friendship of an ugly person.
While taken literally regarding physical beauty, this proverb is often used metaphorically to suggest that a reprimand or criticism from a wise, virtuous, or noble person is more valuable and beneficial than the companionship or alliance of a wicked or base person. It emphasizes choosing quality of character over comfort.
నందుకు ఏడుస్తున్నాను అన్నదట.
nanduku edustunnanu annadata.
She said she was crying for 'Nandu'.
This phrase is used to describe a situation where someone is pretending to be sad or upset for a noble reason, while their true motive is hidden or entirely different. It highlights hypocrisy or deceptive behavior.
ఏమండీ కరణంగారూ గోతిలో పడ్డారే అంటే.. కాదు, మషాకత్తు చేస్తున్నాను అన్నట్లు
emandi karanangaru gotilo paddare ante.. kadu, mashakattu chestunnanu annatlu
When asked 'Sir Karanangaru, you fell into a pit!', he replied 'No, I am just practicing gymnastics.'
This proverb describes a person who refuses to admit their mistakes or misfortune even when it is obvious. Instead of accepting the truth, they invent a prideful excuse to save face. It is used to mock people who try to cover up their failures with silly or boastful explanations.
పనిలేని పాపరాజు ఏం చేస్తున్నాడంటే, కుందేటికొమ్ముకు రేకలు తీస్తున్నాడు అన్నట్లు.
panileni paparaju em chestunnadante, kundetikommuku rekalu tistunnadu annatlu.
When asked what idle Paparaju is doing, he is carving designs on a rabbit's horn.
This proverb is used to describe a person who, having no useful work to do, engages in completely futile, impossible, or nonsensical tasks. Since rabbits do not have horns, 'carving designs on a rabbit's horn' signifies wasting time on something that doesn't exist or doesn't matter.
ఉలిపీ, ఉలిపీ ఎక్కడ కెడుతున్నావంటే, ఉలవచేలో పరిగెడబోతున్నాను అన్నట్లు.
ulipi, ulipi ekkada kedutunnavante, ulavachelo parigedabotunnanu annatlu.
When asked, 'Fox, fox, where are you going?', it replied, 'I am going to run in the horse-gram field.'
This expression is used to describe someone who attempts to hide their true intentions or failures with silly, illogical, or irrelevant excuses. It highlights the absurdity of making up a 'grand' explanation for a trivial or suspicious action, much like a fox claiming to visit a field it doesn't even like just to sound purposeful.
ఏమి చేస్తున్నావురా అంటే ఒలకబోసి ఎత్తుకుంటున్నాను అన్నట్లు
emi chestunnavura ante olakabosi ettukuntunnanu annatlu
When asked 'What are you doing?', he replied, 'I am spilling it and then picking it up'.
This proverb is used to describe someone who engages in useless, counterproductive, or repetitive work that yields no results. It highlights the behavior of creating a problem just to solve it, or performing tasks that are essentially a waste of time and effort.
ఉపాధ్యాయులు ఏమి చేస్తున్నాడంటే, అబద్ధాలు వ్రాసి దిద్దుకుంటున్నాడు అన్నాడట.
upadhyayulu emi chestunnadante, abaddhalu vrasi diddukuntunnadu annadata.
When asked what the school master was doing, one replied " he is correcting the mistakes he has made." A bad workman.
This proverb is used to mock someone who engages in futile, self-created work just to appear busy or productive. It describes a situation where a person creates their own problems or errors only to spend time fixing them, resulting in no actual progress or value. It is often applied to bureaucrats or professionals who indulge in unnecessary paperwork or circular logic.
నవ్వుతూ చేస్తారు, ఏడుస్తూ అనుభవిస్తారు
navvutu chestaru, edustu anubhavistaru
Laughing, they do it; weeping, they suffer for it.
This proverb is used to warn someone that the actions or mistakes they commit lightheartedly or out of greed will eventually lead to painful consequences that they will have to endure with regret.
Said of criminals.
కురూపి ఏమి చేస్తున్నాడంటే, సురూపాలన్నీ లెక్కపెడుతున్నాడు.
kurupi emi chestunnadante, surupalanni lekkapedutunnadu.
When one enquired what the ugly man was doing, [he was told that] he was counting all the good looking people. An ugly person finds fault with the looks of others. The kiln calls the oven burnt house. The shovel makes game of the poker. (French.)† The pan says to the pot " keep off or you'll smutch me." (Italian.)
This proverb is used to describe someone who, instead of focusing on their own shortcomings or fixing their own problems, spends all their time judging, critiquing, or obsessing over the qualities and successes of others. It highlights the irony of being preoccupied with things one lacks.
* Adonde vas, mal ? Adonde mas hay. † La pèle se moque du fourgon. ‡ La padella dice al pajuolo, Fatti in la che tu me tigni,