మోచేతి దెబ్బ చూడక, తాటిచిప్పకు అతుకు పెట్టబోయినట్లు
mocheti debba chudaka, tatichippaku atuku pettaboyinatlu
Like trying to patch a palm leaf bowl without looking at the injury on the elbow.
This expression describes someone who ignores a significant, immediate problem or injury (represented by a hit to the elbow) and instead focuses on a trivial or useless task (like repairing a disposable palm leaf bowl). It is used to mock people who have misplaced priorities or ignore personal suffering to attend to insignificant matters.
Related Phrases
అరచేతిలో బెల్లం పెట్టి, మోచేతి వరకు నాకించినట్లు
arachetilo bellam petti, mocheti varaku nakinchinatlu
Placing jaggery in the palm and making one lick up to the elbow.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone promises or offers something attractive but makes it practically impossible to obtain or enjoy. It refers to deceptive tactics or giving someone a hard time after offering a benefit, essentially making them struggle for something that was supposed to be easy.
గుంటనక్క వింటిదెబ్బ ఎరుగదు
guntanakka vintidebba erugadu
A jackal does not know the impact of a bowshot.
This proverb is used to describe someone who is overconfident or reckless because they have never experienced a real defeat or punishment. It refers to an inexperienced person who underestimates danger or consequences because they haven't been 'hit' by them yet.
అత్తవారింటి సుఖము మోచేతి దెబ్బవంటిది
attavarinti sukhamu mocheti debbavantidi
The pleasure felt in a mother-in-law's house is like a blow on the elbow.
This proverb highlights that the comforts or happiness one experiences at their in-laws' house are often fleeting and sharp-lived. Just as a hit to the elbow causes a sudden, intense pain that subsides quickly, the joy there is considered temporary or accompanied by unexpected stings of criticism or discomfort. It is used to caution against relying too much on the hospitality of in-laws.
Happy is the wife who is married to a motherless son.
దెబ్బకు దయ్యం పారిపోయినట్లు
debbaku dayyam paripoyinatlu
Like a ghost fleeing from a blow.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who was being stubborn, troublesome, or difficult suddenly becomes obedient or runs away as soon as they are threatened with force or face a strong consequence. It highlights that some problems or people only respond to strictness or power.
బెల్లము ఉందని మోచేతిదాకా నాకినట్లు
bellamu undani mochetidaka nakinatlu
Like licking up to the elbow just because there is jaggery.
This proverb describes someone who is excessively greedy or over-indulgent. It refers to a situation where a person tries to exploit a benefit or resource beyond reasonable limits, often ending up in an awkward or unseemly position because of their lack of self-control.
అత్తవారింట సుఖం, మోచేతి దెబ్బవంటిది.
attavarinta sukham, mocheti debbavantidi.
Comfort in the mother-in-law's house is like a hit on the elbow.
This proverb highlights the transient and fragile nature of happiness one experiences at their in-laws' house. Just as a blow to the funny bone (elbow) causes sharp, intense pain that subsides quickly, the comforts or joys found there are often perceived as temporary, superficial, or followed by sudden discomforts/realities. It is used to suggest that one should not get too comfortable or rely entirely on such hospitality.
ఆకుకు అందక, పోకకు పొందక
akuku andaka, pokaku pondaka
Neither reaching the leaf, nor matching the nut
This expression describes a state of being useless or fitting nowhere. It is used when something or someone fails to meet any criteria or serve any purpose in a given situation, similar to being 'neither here nor there'. It specifically refers to the preparation of a betel leaf (paan), where an ingredient fits neither the leaf nor the areca nut.
మోచేతి దెబ్బ మొగుడింటి కాపురం.
mocheti debba mogudinti kapuram.
An elbow hit and a life at the husband's house.
This proverb describes experiences that are briefly painful but must be endured as part of life's inevitable circumstances. Just as an accidental hit on the elbow causes sharp, temporary pain that one quickly moves past, a woman's life in her husband's home (in traditional contexts) involves challenges and adjustments that she learns to tolerate as part of her routine existence.
అరచేతిలో బెల్లం పెట్టి మోచేతి వరకూ నాకించినట్టు
arachetilo bellam petti mocheti varaku nakinchinattu
Putting jaggery in the palm and making one lick it all the way up to the elbow.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone promises or offers something attractive but makes the process so difficult, tricky, or elusive that the person never actually gets to enjoy the benefit. It refers to deceptive behavior or giving someone a 'runaround' while pretending to be helpful.
ఆ మాటకూ ఈ మాటకూ పెద్ద కోడలు, ఆ చేతి పెట్టుకు ఈ చేతి పెట్టుకు అడ్డుగోడ.
a mataku i mataku pedda kodalu, a cheti pettuku i cheti pettuku addugoda.
A daughter-in-law for this word and that word; a dividing wall for this hand's serving and that hand's serving.
This expression describes a person who interferes in every conversation and meddles in every task, effectively becoming a nuisance or an obstacle. It is used to mock someone who is overly talkative, intrusive, or creates unnecessary barriers between people.