నది నాలుగామడల దూరంలో ఉండగానే, చీర విప్పి చేత్తో పట్టుకుందట
nadi nalugamadala duramlo undagane, chira vippi chetto pattukundata
The river was still four leagues away, but she already stripped and held her saree in her hand.
This expression is used to describe someone who acts prematurely or over-prepares for a situation long before it is necessary. It mocks excessive anxiety or unnecessary haste in anticipation of a future event.
Related Phrases
చెడపడానికి ఒక్క చేటెడు బుద్ధి చాలు
chedapadaniki okka chetedu buddhi chalu
A winnowing basket full of bad intelligence is enough to ruin everything.
This expression is used to describe how a small amount of foolishness, negative influence, or bad advice is sufficient to cause significant destruction or failure. It highlights that while building something takes effort, ruining it requires very little.
కాదు కాదు అంటే నాది నాది అన్నాడట.
kadu kadu ante nadi nadi annadata.
When one said "Kādu, Kādu" the other said "Nādi, Nādi."
This proverb describes a situation where someone persistently tries to claim ownership or credit for something even after being explicitly told it doesn't belong to them or is incorrect. It is used to mock people who are shamelessly stubborn or opportunistic despite being rejected.
Kādu in Telugu means " it is not," "no;" in Tamil it signifies " the ear." A Telugu man on one occasion accidentally stuck the barb of his spear into a Tamilian's ear, on which the latter cried out "Kādu! Kādu!" ( My ear! my ear! ) The Telugu man thinking he meant to say " Not yours, not yours" pulled at the spear all the harder, saying "Nādi! Nādi!" (It's mine! it's mine!). Said to a man who is obstinate in argument.
పట్టేట ఓడ ఉండగా, వద రూదినట్లు.
patteta oda undaga, vada rudinatlu.
Like blowing into a hole when the boat is already docked.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is performing a redundant or useless task. Just as it is futile to blow air to steer or move a boat that has already reached the shore and is secured, it refers to efforts made after a task is already completed or when the effort is no longer necessary.
ఏరు ఏడామడ ఉండగానే చీర విప్పి చంకబెట్టుకొన్నదట
eru edamada undagane chira vippi chankabettukonnadata
She allegedly took off her saree and tucked it under her arm even while the river was seven miles away.
This proverb is used to describe someone who is overly anxious or prepares prematurely for an event that is still very far off. It mocks people who take drastic actions or get excited about a situation long before it actually arrives.
ఏరు ఏడామడ ఉండగానే, చీర విప్పి చంకన పెట్టుకున్నట్టు
eru edamada undagane, chira vippi chankana pettukunnattu
She took off her cloth and put it under her arm, while the river was still seventy miles off.
This expression is used to describe someone who acts with premature over-preparedness or haste. It refers to people who start preparing for a task or reacting to a situation long before it is actually necessary, often appearing foolish or over-anxious in the process.
Do not strip before bed time. (French.)*
ఎత్తుకున్న బిడ్డ మొత్తుకున్నా ఆగదు
ettukunna bidda mottukunna agadu
A child in arms won't stop crying even if you hit it.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where one is forced to endure a burden or responsibility they have voluntarily taken up. Once you have committed to helping someone or taking on a task (lifting the child), you must bear the consequences and difficulties (the crying/trouble) that come with it until the end.
మొలది విప్పి తలకు చుట్టినట్టు
moladi vippi talaku chuttinattu
Taking the cloth from the waist and wrapping it around the head
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone solves one problem by creating another, or uses a resource meant for a fundamental necessity to satisfy a less critical need. It refers to poor planning or a makeshift solution that lacks common sense, as leaving the waist uncovered to cover the head is counterproductive.
ఏరు ఎడామడా ఉండగనే పంచవిప్పి చంకన పెట్టుకున్నట్టు
eru edamada undagane panchavippi chankana pettukunnattu
Taking off your clothes and tucking them under your arm while the river is still miles away.
This expression is used to describe someone who acts prematurely or prepares excessively early for an event that hasn't happened yet. It highlights the foolishness of taking unnecessary actions or worrying about a future hurdle long before it is actually reached.
ఉన్నదంతా ఉండగా, ఉపాధ్యాయులవారి భార్య సమర్తాడిందట
unnadanta undaga, upadhyayulavari bharya samartadindata
While everything was already present, the teacher's wife reached puberty.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone adds an unnecessary or poorly timed burden to an already chaotic or difficult situation. It refers to a person who creates extra trouble or demands attention for something insignificant (or poorly timed) when there are already plenty of other problems to deal with.
గేదె ఉండగా, దూడ ఉండగా, గుంజకు వచ్చెరా గుబికవాయువు అన్నట్లు
gede undaga, duda undaga, gunjaku vachchera gubikavayuvu annatlu
While the buffalo is there and the calf is there, the pillar got the spasm.
This expression is used to describe a situation where a problem or symptom appears in an inanimate object or an unrelated third party instead of the actual person or source involved. It highlights the absurdity of blaming or finding faults in something that shouldn't be affected while the main actors are perfectly fine.