మోటకు పొమ్మంటే, ఆటకు పెట్టినాడు
motaku pommante, ataku pettinadu
When asked to go for hard labor, he turned it into a game.
This expression is used to describe a person who avoids responsibility or hard work by trivializing a serious task or pretending it is a game. It characterizes someone who is lazy or shirks their duties when faced with strenuous labor.
Related Phrases
పొమ్మనలేక పొగ పెట్టినట్టు
pommanaleka poga pettinattu
Not being able to tell him to go he smoked him out.
This expression describes a situation where someone is indirectly forced or pressured to leave or quit because the other person is too polite or hesitant to ask them directly. It is commonly used when someone creates an uncomfortable environment to drive another person away.
దమ్మన్న దాడి పొమ్మన్నా పోదు
dammanna dadi pommanna podu
Dammanna's raid won't leave even if told to go
This proverb is used to describe a persistent problem, an unwanted guest, or a stubborn situation that refuses to go away despite several attempts to get rid of it. It refers to a nuisance that has overstayed its welcome.
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.
ఊరు పొమ్మంటున్నది, కాడు రమ్మంటున్నది.
uru pommantunnadi, kadu rammantunnadi.
The village tells you to leave, the graveyard tells you to come.
This proverb is used to describe someone who is very old and near the end of their life. It signifies that their time in the world of the living (the village) is over, and they are ready for the afterlife or burial ground (the graveyard).
పెట్టి పొయ్యనమ్మ కొట్టి పొమ్మన్నదట.
petti poyyanamma kotti pommannadata.
She that gave neither food nor drink, beat [me] and said "be off." Said by a beggar.
This proverb describes a person who is not only uncharitable or unhelpful but also behaves rudely or aggressively towards those seeking help. It is used to highlight a situation where instead of receiving expected hospitality or assistance, one receives harsh treatment.
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.
ఊరు పొమ్మంటుంది, కాడు రమ్మంటుంది
uru pommantundi, kadu rammantundi
The village says "go," the cemetery says "come."
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely old or in the final stages of their life. It metaphorically suggests that the living world (the village) is ready to see them go, while the land of the dead (the graveyard) is waiting to welcome them.
About to die. He is burnt to the socket.
అయ్య దాసరులకు పెడితే, అమ్మ జంగాలకు పెట్టినట్లు
ayya dasarulaku pedite, amma jangalaku pettinatlu
When the master fed the Dâsaris (devotees of Vishṇu), the mistress fed the Jangams (devotees of Śiva). Applied to a spirit of contradiction.
This proverb describes a situation where both partners in a couple or group are equally charitable, or more commonly, equally wasteful and extravagant in spending resources on outsiders. It is used to highlight a lack of financial coordination or a mutual tendency to give away assets, often leading to the depletion of the household's wealth.
తిరునాళ్ళకు పోతూ తీసి పొమ్మన్నారు, పెండ్లికిపోతూ పెట్టుకో పొమ్మన్నారు
tirunallaku potu tisi pommannaru, pendlikipotu pettuko pommannaru
While going to the village fair, they said to take it off; while going to a wedding, they said to put it on.
This proverb describes a situation where a person is given contradictory advice or where things are handled based on the specific context and necessity. It highlights the irony or the double standards in instructions given by others depending on the occasion—encouraging modesty or safety in crowds (fair) and display of wealth at celebrations (wedding).
ముసలిదానికి పెట్టినది, ముండకు పెట్టినదే ఒకటే.
musalidaniki pettinadi, mundaku pettinade okate.
Giving to an old woman and giving to a childless widow is the same.
This expression is used to describe an investment or a favor that yields no return or future benefit. In a traditional social context, it implies that providing for those who cannot reproduce or contribute back to the lineage is a dead-end expenditure.