నేలమీద వ్రాసిన బూరెను ఇంత తింటావా, అంత తింటావా అన్నట్లు
nelamida vrasina burenu inta tintava, anta tintava annatlu
Like asking if one would eat this much or that much of a sweet (Boore) drawn on the floor.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone offers something that is purely imaginary, non-existent, or impossible to provide. It mocks people who make grand promises or offers that have no basis in reality, similar to offering to share a drawing of food instead of actual food.
Related Phrases
గంత కట్టేదా బసవన్నా అంటే ఉహూ అని, గుగ్గిళ్ళు తింటావా అంటే ఆహా అన్నదట
ganta katteda basavanna ante uhu ani, guggillu tintava ante aha annadata
When asked 'Shall I tie a blindfold, Basavanna?', he said 'No', but when asked 'Will you eat boiled grains?', he said 'Yes'.
This proverb is used to describe a person who avoids hard work or responsibility but is the first one to show up for benefits or food. It highlights opportunism and laziness.
కత్తేస్తావా, బద్దేస్తావా అన్నట్లు
kattestava, baddestava annatlu
Like asking, 'Will you take the scissors or the stick?'
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is forced to choose between two equally difficult or unpleasant options, or when someone is being interrogated/threatened with no easy way out. It implies a 'stuck between a rock and a hard place' scenario where both outcomes are undesirable.
ఒంటి ఎద్దు దాసుడా వలపల ఉంటావా, దాపల ఉంటవా అన్నట్లు
onti eddu dasuda valapala untava, dapala untava annatlu
Like asking a servant with a single ox, 'Will you stay on the right side or the left side?'
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is offered a false choice or a choice that makes no difference. Since there is only one ox, it must occupy the central position in the yoke regardless; asking whether it should be on the left or right is redundant and meaningless. It highlights unnecessary questioning or offering options when there is actually no alternative.
తాటికాయ తింటావా, తలకొట్లు పడతావా?
tatikaya tintava, talakotlu padatava?
Will you eat the palm fruit, or will you endure blows to the head?
This expression refers to a situation where one has to face extreme hardship or endure significant struggle to achieve a small or simple pleasure. It is used when the cost or effort required for a result is disproportionately high or painful.
నీళ్ల మీద వ్రాసిన మాట
nilla mida vrasina mata
A word written on water.
This expression refers to something that is temporary, unreliable, or lacks permanence. Just as writing on the surface of water disappears instantly, this phrase is used to describe promises that are easily broken or plans that have no solid foundation.
చక్కిలాలు తింటావా, చల్ది తింటావా అంటే, చక్కిలాలూ తింటాను, చల్దీ తింటాను, అయ్యతోటి వేడీ తింటాను అన్నాడట.
chakkilalu tintava, chaldi tintava ante, chakkilalu tintanu, chaldi tintanu, ayyatoti vedi tintanu annadata.
When [the guest] was asked whether he would take biscuits, or cold breakfast, he replied that he would take both, and hot breakfast too with the good man of the house. Applied to an ill mannered glutton. The first cut, and all the loaf besides.
This proverb describes a person who is extremely greedy or opportunistic. It is used to mock someone who refuses to choose between options and instead demands everything available, plus extra. It highlights a lack of hesitation in asking for more than what is offered.
వామ్ము తింటావా మామా అంటే, వాము పోసకు సందుంటే ఒక వడ్రికైనా తిననా అన్నాడట
vammu tintava mama ante, vamu posaku sandunte oka vadrikaina tinana annadata
When asked 'Uncle, will you eat some owa (ajwain)?', he replied 'If there is space for a single grain of owa, wouldn't I eat a whole vada instead?'
This proverb is used to describe a person who is extremely greedy or has a very large appetite. It highlights a situation where someone is so full or overwhelmed but still looks for a way to consume more of something substantial (like a vada) rather than something small (like owa/ajwain), showing their insatiable nature.
ఉలవలు తింటావా బసవన్నా అంటే ఊ అన్నట్లు
ulavalu tintava basavanna ante u annatlu
Like asking Basavanna if he wants to eat horse gram and him nodding 'yes'
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is overly eager or gives an immediate, enthusiastic consent to something that is clearly to their benefit. It refers to the bull (Basavanna) who never says no to its favorite food, implying a predictable and self-serving 'yes' without any hesitation.
అంతకు ఇంతయింది, ఇంత ఎంతవుతుందో, ఇంతకింతే.
antaku intayindi, inta entavutundo, intakinte.
It became this much from that much; who knows what this much will become; for this, only this much.
This expression is used to describe a situation that has grown or escalated unexpectedly from a small beginning. It reflects on the unpredictable progression of events and concludes that the current outcome is the inevitable result of the preceding actions.
కులానికి ఇంత అంటే తలా గోరంత అన్నట్లు
kulaniki inta ante tala goranta annatlu
If you give a little to the whole community, each individual gets only a tiny bit like a fingernail.
This proverb is used to describe situations where a resource, when distributed among a very large group of people, results in each person receiving a negligible or insignificant amount. It highlights the dilution of benefits in over-crowded or large-scale distributions.