మూడు మారులు తప్పిన ఏడు దూరాలు
mudu marulu tappina edu duralu
If you miss three times, you will go seven distances away.
This proverb highlights the cascading effect of missing an opportunity or failing to act at the right time. It suggests that once a specific momentum or window of opportunity is lost after a few attempts, the goal becomes significantly harder to reach or moves much further away, leading to long-term delays.
Related Phrases
అన్ని కార్తెలు తప్పినా హస్త తప్పదు
anni kartelu tappina hasta tappadu
Even if all other seasons fail, the Hasta rain will not fail.
This is a traditional agricultural proverb related to the lunar mansions (Kartes). It implies that even if the rains fail during other periods, the rains during the 'Hasta Karthe' are reliable and inevitable. In a broader sense, it refers to a dependable final chance or a certainty that one can rely on when everything else fails.
బాపలు తప్పినా వేపలు తప్పవు, వేపలు తప్పినా ఏరువాకా పున్నమి తప్పదు
bapalu tappina vepalu tappavu, vepalu tappina eruvaka punnami tappadu
Even if the Brahmins miss (the predictions), the neem trees won't; even if the neem trees miss, the Eruvaka Purnima won't.
This is a traditional agricultural proverb highlighting the certainty of seasonal cycles. It suggests that while human predictions (astrology/almanacs) might fail, nature's signs (like neem trees flowering) and fixed seasonal festivals (like Eruvaka Purnima, which marks the start of the sowing season) are reliable indicators for farmers to begin their work.
ముదిమది తప్పిన మూడు గుణాలు
mudimadi tappina mudu gunalu
Old age causes the mind to wander, resulting in three traits.
This expression refers to the onset of senility or second childhood. It suggests that as people reach extreme old age, their mental faculties decline and they often display behaviors similar to those of a child: stubbornness, irritability, and dependency.
సత్యం తప్పినా పత్యం తప్పినా పాట్లు తప్పవు
satyam tappina patyam tappina patlu tappavu
Whether you deviate from the truth or deviate from a prescribed diet, troubles are inevitable.
This proverb highlights the importance of integrity and discipline. It suggests that just as ignoring medical dietary restrictions leads to physical suffering, abandoning truth and honesty leads to moral and social consequences. In both cases, the person must face the resulting hardships.
పదును తప్పినా అదను తప్పినా పన్నుదండుగ
padunu tappina adanu tappina pannudanduga
If sharpness is lost or if the season is missed, the tax is a waste.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of timing and preparedness in agriculture. If the tools aren't sharp or if the farmer misses the specific sowing window (season), the crop will fail, making the payment of land taxes a total loss. It is used more broadly to signify that performing a task without proper preparation or at the wrong time leads to wasted effort and resources.
పదము తప్పినా ప్రాస తప్పరాదు
padamu tappina prasa tapparadu
Even if the word is missed, the rhyme must not be missed.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone prioritizes style, rhythm, or external appearance over the actual content or truth. In a literal sense, it refers to poetry where maintaining the rhyme (prasa) is seen as more important than the choice of words. In a general context, it refers to people who focus on sticking to a pattern or keeping up appearances even when the substance is lost.
అరవై ఏళ్ళొస్తే అరులు మరులు
aravai elloste arulu marulu
When sixty years have passed, dotage.
This proverb is used to describe the onset of senility or behavioral changes in old age. It suggests that when a person reaches sixty, they may lose their mental clarity, become forgetful, or act in an eccentric and unpredictable manner due to their aging mind.
పదను తప్పినా, అదను తప్పినా పన్నుదండుగే
padanu tappina, adanu tappina pannudanduge
If the sharpness is lost or the right time is missed, the tax is a waste.
This proverb is primarily used in the context of agriculture but applies to any time-sensitive task. It means that if your tools aren't sharp (readiness) or if you miss the specific window of opportunity (timing), all the effort and money (taxes/investment) put into the endeavor will be a total loss. It emphasizes that both preparation and timing are crucial for success.
మూడు ముక్కల్లో ఆరు తప్పులు
mudu mukkallo aru tappulu
Six mistakes in just three words.
This expression is used to describe someone who is extremely incompetent, clumsy, or prone to making many errors even in a very simple or short task. It highlights a high density of mistakes relative to the small amount of work done.
మాట తప్పిన వాడు మాల వాడు
mata tappina vadu mala vadu
He that breaks his word is a Pariah.
This proverb emphasizes the supreme importance of honesty and integrity. It suggests that a person's character and social standing are defined by their ability to keep promises. Historically, it was used to imply that failing to honor one's word leads to a loss of honor and respect in society, comparing the act of lying to being cast out of the social order.