మడిమల్లేసి, బిందాణం పీకేసి, సరువ గోకేసి.
madimallesi, bindanam pikesi, saruva gokesi.
Twisting the heel, pulling out the bit, and scraping the pot.
This expression describes a situation where someone performs a series of random or mismatched actions that don't lead to a productive result. It is often used to mock someone who is acting busy or doing things in a haphazard, disorganized, or nonsensical manner.
Related Phrases
మూలిగే నక్క మీద తాటిపండు పడ్డట్టు
mulige nakka mida tatipandu paddattu
Like a palmyra fruit falling on a moaning fox
This expression is used to describe a situation where a person who is already in trouble or suffering faces yet another misfortune. It is similar to the English idiom 'To add insult to injury' or 'When it rains, it pours', highlighting a sequence of back-to-back calamities.
కలిగింది తినేసి, కట్టుకున్నది విప్పేసి వెళ్ళమన్నట్లు
kaligindi tinesi, kattukunnadi vippesi vellamannatlu
Like eating what was available and asking to strip off the clothes before leaving.
This proverb describes an extreme case of ungratefulness or exploitation. It refers to a situation where someone takes everything a person has to offer and then humiliates them or leaves them with absolutely nothing. It is used to criticize those who benefit from someone's hospitality or help and then treat them cruelly or greedily.
పొదుగు లేని ఆవు పాలిస్తుంటే, నాలిక లేని పిల్లి నాకేసిందట
podugu leni avu palistunte, nalika leni pilli nakesindata
While a cow without an udder was giving milk, a cat without a tongue licked it up.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is telling a blatant lie or a completely impossible story. It highlights the absurdity of a claim by pairing two impossible scenarios: a cow giving milk without an udder and a tongueless cat licking it. It is typically used to mock someone who is boasting about things that could never have happened.
పట్టిపట్టి పంగనామం పెడితే, గోడచాటుకెళ్ళి గోకేసుకున్నాడట
pattipatti panganamam pedite, godachatukelli gokesukunnadata
When a religious mark was applied with great care, he went behind a wall and scratched it off.
This expression describes a situation where someone puts a lot of effort into helping, teaching, or reforming someone else, only for that person to immediately undo it or disregard the advice the moment they are alone. It is used to highlight the futility of trying to help someone who is not interested in changing or lacks appreciation.
వరి వడ్డేసి తుంగ నాటినట్లు
vari vaddesi tunga natinatlu
Sowing weed (nut grass) instead of planting paddy.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone discards something valuable or productive and replaces it with something useless or harmful. It highlights poor decision-making or foolishness in trading a beneficial asset for a nuisance.
పిరికివాని బింకం పిసరులో ఇంకు
pirikivani binkam pisarulo inku
A coward's boast vanishes in a pinch.
This proverb is used to describe how a coward's arrogance or boastful talk disappears instantly the moment they face even a tiny bit of real trouble or a challenging situation. Their bravery exists only in words and not in action.
పింజారి పీకులాట కురువ గుద్దులాట
pinjari pikulata kuruva guddulata
The cotton cleaner's tugging and the shepherd's thumping
This proverb is used to describe a situation where people are engaged in tedious, endless, and noisy disputes or trivial struggles that lead to no productive outcome. It refers to the characteristic repetitive sounds and actions of traditional cotton carding (Pinjari) and sheep herding/weaving (Kuruva), signifying a chaotic or noisy commotion over petty matters.
కుండ వెళ్లి బిందెకు తగిలినా, బిందె వచ్చి కుండకు తగిలినా కుండకే నష్టం
kunda velli bindeku tagilina, binde vachchi kundaku tagilina kundake nashtam
Whether the clay pot goes and hits the brass pot, or the brass pot comes and hits the clay pot, it is the clay pot that gets damaged.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a weak or vulnerable person is always the one who suffers in a conflict with a powerful person, regardless of who started the fight or how it occurred. It emphasizes that in an unequal power dynamic, the consequences are always borne by the weaker party.
ఇద్దరికీ శివం వస్తే ఇల్లేమి కాను అంటే, తడికెకు గుసిపెట్టాను దానికేమి పర్వాలేదు అందట
iddariki shivam vaste illemi kanu ante, tadikeku gusipettanu danikemi parvaledu andata
When both got possessed and asked 'what will happen to the house?', the reply was 'I have propped a stick against the thatched screen, nothing will happen'.
This proverb describes a situation where the people responsible for a household or a task are both negligent or acting irresponsibly, yet they offer a flimsy, inadequate solution to a serious problem. It is used to mock people who ignore major risks while relying on useless or trivial precautions.
విత్తనము వేసి, పొత్తు కలిపినట్లు.
vittanamu vesi, pottu kalipinatlu.
Like sowing a seed and immediately asking for a partnership in the harvest.
This expression is used to describe someone who is overly impatient or seeks immediate benefits from an action that takes time to bear fruit. It highlights the absurdity of wanting to share the results right after the initial effort is made, without allowing for the natural growth process.