ముసలి ఆవు పేడ ముడ్డిలో ఉన్నా ఒకటే, దొడ్లో ఉన్నా ఒకటే.

musali avu peda muddilo unna okate, dodlo unna okate.

Translation

Whether an old cow's dung is still inside it or in the shed, it is all the same.

Meaning

This proverb refers to someone or something that has become so old or useless that their actions, presence, or contributions no longer make any practical difference to the situation. It is used to describe a state of total insignificance or irrelevance.

Related Phrases

A goat's pellet is the same wherever it is.

This expression is used to describe something that is insignificant, useless, or of such low value that its location or presence makes no difference. It is often applied to people or objects that have no impact on a situation regardless of where they are placed.

If one's lifespan is strong, it is the same whether they are in a forest or in Ayodhya.

This expression means that if a person is destined to live, they will survive regardless of their surroundings or the dangers they face. It highlights the belief in destiny and longevity, suggesting that safety (Ayodhya) or danger (the forest) does not matter if it is not yet one's time to die. It is used to express that fate governs life and death.

A guest who has lost her dignity stays the same whether she is at her mother-in-law's house or her mother's house!

This proverb describes a situation where a person has lost their respect or status to such an extent that their location or surroundings no longer matter. It is used to point out that once a person's reputation is ruined or they have become shameless, they will be treated with the same indifference or contempt everywhere.

An incompetent husband is the same whether he is inside the house or out on the street.

This proverb is used to describe a person who is useless or incapable of performing their duties. It suggests that if someone lacks the skill or will to help, their physical presence or absence makes no difference to the outcome of a situation. It is often applied to lazy or incompetent individuals in a household or workplace context.

My useless husband being in the village or being in the army is one and the same.

This proverb describes a person who is so incompetent or lazy that their presence or absence makes no difference. It is used to mock someone whose contribution to a task or society is nil, regardless of the situation they are in.

Whether a blind eye is closed or open, it is all the same.

This expression is used to describe a person or a thing that is completely useless or ineffective. It suggests that the presence or absence of certain actions/tools doesn't matter when the core functionality is missing. It is often used to refer to someone who is indifferent to what is happening around them or an effort that yields no result regardless of the approach.

Whether there are three hundred and sixty-four knots of hair or thirty-six small buns, it is all the same.

This expression is used to describe a situation where there is no real difference between the choices or outcomes presented, despite how they are counted or categorized. It implies that a large quantity of something disorganized or fragmented is ultimately equal to a smaller quantity of something similarly messy; basically saying 'it's all the same mess' or 'six of one, half a dozen of the other'.

It is the same whether it is in the udder or in the pot.

This expression refers to a state of complacency or lack of urgency regarding a resource that is already secured or 'at hand'. It is used to describe a situation where one feels there is no difference between a resource being in its source (like milk in an udder) or collected (like milk in a pot), implying that since it belongs to them, they can access it whenever they want, often leading to laziness or delayed action.

Guntur tobacco is the same whether it is in the niche or in the mouth.

This proverb highlights the extremely strong and pungent nature of Guntur tobacco. It suggests that its presence is so powerful that its smell or effect is felt regardless of whether it is stored away or being consumed. In a broader sense, it refers to something or someone whose influence or reputation is so pervasive that it cannot be ignored, regardless of its position.

It's the same whether you sleep there or on the floor near the teacher!

This expression is used to describe a situation where one has no choice or where all available options lead to the same uncomfortable or mediocre outcome. It signifies that regardless of the path taken, the result remains equally unsatisfactory or unchanged.