నాడు కట్టా లేదు, నేడు చించా లేదు.
nadu katta ledu, nedu chincha ledu.
Neither on that day did I put it on, nor on this day have I torn it.
This proverb is used to describe someone who is consistently lazy, indifferent, or irresponsible. It refers to a person who didn't take the effort to wear/tie a garment properly in the past and doesn't bother about it being torn or ruined in the present. It characterizes a state of having no cares, no progress, and no sense of responsibility regardless of the time or situation.
Said by a poor fellow who had never had the pleasure of putting on a good cloth or the annoyance of tearing it.
Related Phrases
నాడు కట్టాలేదు, నేడు చింతాలేదు
nadu kattaledu, nedu chintaledu
No effort was put in then, and no worry is felt now.
This proverb describes a state of total negligence or lack of foresight. It is used to describe a person who did not take action or plan during the appropriate time (the past) and consequently feels no regret or concern about the failure in the present. It often implies a sense of indifference toward one's responsibilities.
తాడూ లేదు, బొంగరం లేదు
tadu ledu, bongaram ledu
Neither a string nor a top.
This expression is used to describe someone who lacks any ties, responsibilities, or assets. It often refers to a person who is roaming aimlessly without any sense of direction or accountability, or to a situation that is completely disorganized and lacks a proper basis.
ఆవాహన లేదు, విసర్జన లేదు
avahana ledu, visarjana ledu
Neither invocation nor dismissal.
This expression refers to someone who is indifferent or neutral towards a situation, person, or ritual. It originates from Vedic rituals where a deity is invited (Avahana) and then sent back (Visarjana). It is used to describe a state where one is neither welcoming nor rejecting something, often implying a lack of interest or involvement.
తాడూ లేదు, బొంగరమూ లేదు
tadu ledu, bongaramu ledu
Neither a string nor a top
This expression is used to describe a person who is irresponsible, lacks roots, or has no attachments or accountability. Just as a spinning top cannot be controlled or operated without a string, it refers to someone who is wandering aimlessly or a situation that has no proper foundation or control.
చదువు లేదు, మరుపు లేదు
chaduvu ledu, marupu ledu
Neither study nor forgetting.
This expression is used to describe someone who is completely ignorant or uneducated. It implies that since the person never learned anything (study) in the first place, there is nothing for them to forget. It highlights a state of total lack of knowledge or intellectual effort.
ఆవాహన లేదు, విసర్జన లేదు.
avahana ledu, visarjana ledu.
No invocation, no dismissal.
This expression refers to a state of complete indifference or lack of formal procedure. It is used to describe someone who doesn't follow any rules, doesn't start or finish tasks properly, or remains totally unbothered and detached regardless of the situation or guests arriving/leaving.
నాడు నిలువబడాలేదు, నేడు ఎత్తుబడా లేదు
nadu niluvabadaledu, nedu ettubada ledu
Neither was it standing then, nor is it lifting up now.
This expression refers to a state of constant failure or persistent poverty. It is used to describe a situation where things were not stable in the past and show no signs of improvement or progress in the present. It implies that there has been no growth or positive change over time.
చింత లేదు, చింత లేకపోతే పులుసు లేదు.
chinta ledu, chinta lekapote pulusu ledu.
"No matter" said one, "Then if there's no tamarind, there's no acid" said the other. There is here a pun upon the word Chinta which means both "thought, sorrow" and also "tamarinds."
This is a pun on the Telugu word 'Chinta' which means both 'worry' and 'tamarind'. It is used humorously to describe a situation where someone says they have no worries, but in reality, they are missing a basic necessity or the very thing that gives life flavor. It highlights that being completely free of 'concerns' might sometimes mean lacking something essential.
చదువు మా యింట లేదు, సంధ్య మా వంశాన లేదు.
chaduvu ma yinta ledu, sandhya ma vamshana ledu.
There is no learning in my house, nor performance of Sandhya in my family. Said by an uneducated and irreligious Brahman.
This proverb is used to describe a person or a family with a complete lack of education and cultured habits. It highlights total ignorance or illiteracy, suggesting that neither formal learning nor spiritual/traditional knowledge has been part of their background for generations.
నాడు నిలువబడా లేదు, నేడు ఎత్తుబడా లేదు.
nadu niluvabada ledu, nedu ettubada ledu.
I was never rich one day and poor another.
This proverb describes a person who has been consistently useless or unsuccessful throughout their life. It refers to someone who lacked stability or foundation in the past ('nadu') and shows no progress or elevation in the present ('nedu'). It is often used to critique someone's lack of growth or contribution over a long period.
Said by a man who had not experienced the ups and downs of fortune, but had remained in a mediocre state throughout his life.