లంజ పితృదేవతలకు పెట్టి ఆకాశం చూసినట్టు
lanja pitridevatalaku petti akasham chusinattu
A harlot made an offering to the manes of her ancestors and looked towards heaven.
This expression is used to describe hypocritical behavior or someone performing a pious act while their character or intentions are completely contradictory to the sanctity of the ritual. It highlights the irony of someone who lacks virtue expecting divine or traditional rewards through superficial actions.
Related Phrases
అయ్య దాసర్లకు పెడితే, అమ్మ జంగాలకు పెట్టిందట
ayya dasarlaku pedite, amma jangalaku pettindata
While the father gave to the Dasaris, the mother gave to the Jangams.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a husband and wife (or two people in charge) are both overly generous or spendthrift in different ways, leading to the depletion of their resources. It highlights a lack of coordination or mutual recklessness in managing household wealth or assets.
ఆకాశరామన్న చదివేది ఆకాశ పంచాంగం
akasharamanna chadivedi akasha panchangam
Akasharamanna reads the celestial almanac.
This expression is used to describe someone who makes baseless claims, tells lies, or provides information from unknown or unreliable sources. It refers to someone (Akasharamanna) who talks about things that have no foundation in reality, similar to an anonymous or imaginary person giving a report that cannot be verified.
పిల్లకు సొమ్ము పెట్టి చూడు, గోడకు సున్నము పెట్టి చూడు.
pillaku sommu petti chudu, godaku sunnamu petti chudu.
Adorn the child and look at it, whitewash the wall and look at it.
This proverb highlights how external adornments can dramatically enhance natural beauty. Just as a plain wall looks bright and beautiful after being whitewashed, a girl looks exceptionally radiant when adorned with jewelry. It is used to describe the transformative power of decoration and grooming.
ఆకాశం పొడవు ఆకాశమే ఎరుగు
akasham podavu akashame erugu
The sky's length is known only to the sky.
This expression means that only someone of great stature, talent, or experience can truly understand the extent of another person's greatness or depth. It is used to suggest that common people cannot judge or comprehend the limits of extraordinary individuals or vast matters.
గోడకు పెట్టిన సున్నమూ, లంజకు పెట్టిన సొమ్మూ
godaku pettina sunnamu, lanjaku pettina sommu
Lime put on a wall, money given to a harlot. No return.
This proverb describes a situation where resources (money or effort) are spent with no possibility of recovery or return. Just as you cannot retrieve whitewash once it is applied to a wall, money spent on fleeting, unproductive pleasures or given to unreliable people is gone forever. It is used to warn someone about wasteful expenditure.
పిల్లకాయలకూ పీటకోళ్లకూ చలిలేదు
pillakayalaku pitakollaku chaliledu
Children and the legs of a stool do not feel the cold. To a child all weather is cold.
This expression is used to describe how children are so active and energetic that they don't seem to feel the cold even in winter. Just as the inanimate wooden legs of a stool (peetakoallu) are unaffected by the weather, children playing outdoors often ignore the cold temperature.
పిల్లను చూచి పీట వెయ్యమన్నట్టు
pillanu chuchi pita veyyamannattu
Like saying to place the wooden stool only after seeing the bride.
This proverb suggests that one should evaluate the situation or the person before making a commitment or offering hospitality. It emphasizes the importance of verifying facts or seeing the actual person/object before proceeding with subsequent actions, often used in contexts of marriage or business deals.
కన్నుచూచి కాటుక, పిట్టచూచి పీట.
kannuchuchi katuka, pittachuchi pita.
Applying mascara after seeing the eye; placing a seat after seeing the bird.
This expression refers to performing an action or making a decision based on the specific context, status, or capacity of the person involved. It suggests that one should offer resources, respect, or tasks in proportion to the individual's merit or needs rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.
ముఖాలు చూసి బొట్టు పెడతారు, పీటలు చూసి పీట వేస్తారు
mukhalu chusi bottu pedataru, pitalu chusi pita vestaru
They apply bindi by looking at the face, and place a seat by looking at the person.
This proverb describes the reality of social bias or favoritism. It means that people are often treated based on their status, appearance, or perceived importance rather than equality. Rewards or hospitality are often adjusted according to the social standing of the recipient.
ఆడది చూసిన చేపల గుంటకు, మగవాడు చూసిన కందుల కళ్ళానికి వెళ్ళకూడదు.
adadi chusina chepala guntaku, magavadu chusina kandula kallaniki vellakudadu.
Do not go to a fish pond noticed by a woman, nor to a pigeon pea threshing floor noticed by a man.
This traditional proverb suggests that certain tasks or resources are best managed by those who have a keen eye for them. A woman is believed to be very efficient at spotting and gathering small resources like fish from a pond, leaving nothing behind. Similarly, a man is believed to be thorough in harvesting or guarding a threshing floor. It is used to describe situations where a resource has been so thoroughly picked over or managed by an expert that nothing remains for others.