నెప్పరగత్తి పిప్ప లొండితే, వడిగలమ్మ ఒళ్ళో పెట్టుకుని పోయిందట
nepparagatti pippa londite, vadigalamma ollo pettukuni poyindata
When a lazy woman dropped a wood-chip, a quick woman picked it up and carried it in her lap.
This proverb describes a situation where an extremely lazy or slow person takes forever to perform a simple task, while someone else, in an ironic display of 'efficiency' or unnecessary haste, treats a worthless item as something valuable. It is used to mock people who waste effort on useless things or to highlight the absurdity of two different types of incompetent behavior.
Related Phrases
బడిలో బెట్టుదునా, దడిలో బెట్టుదునా అన్నట్లు
badilo bettuduna, dadilo bettuduna annatlu
Like asking whether to put it in the school or in the fence
This expression describes a state of extreme confusion, indecision, or a lack of common sense. It is used when someone is unable to choose between two completely incomparable or illogical options, or when they hesitate to perform a simple task by overthinking it in a foolish way.
మోక్షానకు పోతే, మొసలి ఎత్తుకొని పోయినది
mokshanaku pote, mosali ettukoni poyinadi
When he went for salvation, an alligator carried him off. He was bathing in holy water for the attainment of eternal beatitude. య.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone sets out with a noble or high intention, but encounters an unexpected and disastrous setback. It highlights how bad luck or unforeseen obstacles can ruin even the most virtuous pursuits.
పెట్టి పొయ్యనమ్మ కొట్టి పొమ్మన్నదట.
petti poyyanamma kotti pommannadata.
She that gave neither food nor drink, beat [me] and said "be off." Said by a beggar.
This proverb describes a person who is not only uncharitable or unhelpful but also behaves rudely or aggressively towards those seeking help. It is used to highlight a situation where instead of receiving expected hospitality or assistance, one receives harsh treatment.
మేకపిల్లను చంకలో పెట్టుకొని ఊరంతా వెదికినట్లు
mekapillanu chankalo pettukoni uranta vedikinatlu
Like searching the whole village for a goat kid while holding it under one's arm.
This expression describes a situation where someone is searching frantically for something that is already in their possession or right in front of them. It is used to mock absent-mindedness or the irony of looking far and wide for a solution that is close at hand.
నేర్పుగలమ్మ నేతితో అతిరసాలు వండితే, ఓర్పుగలమ్మ ఒడిలో కట్టుకుని పోయిందట.
nerpugalamma netito atirasalu vandite, orpugalamma odilo kattukuni poyindata.
When a skillful woman cooked sweets with ghee, a patient woman tied them in her lap and took them away.
This proverb highlights that intelligence and hard work (skill) are useless without patience or a presence of mind to protect the results. It is often used to describe situations where one person does all the hard work, but a more calculating or patient person reaps the final benefits, or to suggest that skill without caution leads to loss.
పిల్లిని చంకన పెట్టుకుని పెళ్ళికి వెళ్ళినట్టు.
pillini chankana pettukuni pelliki vellinattu.
Like going to a wedding while carrying a cat under one's arm.
This expression describes a situation where someone brings along an unnecessary burden or a nuisance while trying to perform an important task. It refers to people who create their own obstacles or distractions that make a simple or celebratory event difficult for themselves and others.
ఊరి పిడుగు వచ్చి వీరిశెట్టిని కొట్టుకొని పోయినది
uri pidugu vachchi virishettini kottukoni poyinadi
The misfortune of the village has carried off Viriśetti. The story is as follows: A burglar in digging through the wall of a house was killed by the wall falling upon him; his wife prosecuted the owner of the house for having badly built walls; the house owner blamed the builder; the builder blamed a woman who had distracted his attention while at his work, by passing by that way; the woman blamed a goldsmith to whom she was going to get certain jewels which he had not finished for her; the goldsmith blamed the banker for not letting him have gold in time; the banker was sentenced accordingly to be impaled, but on the point of being put to death he suggested that the size of the instruments would be much better suited to fat Viriśetti ( to whom he owed a grudge ); fat Viriśetti was executed accordingly. This happened at Anyāyapura ( the city of in- justice ). The innocent suffering for the guilty.
This expression refers to a situation where a common or public problem unexpectedly targets a specific individual. It is often used to describe instances where a general calamity or a random unfortunate event causes personal loss to someone, or when a person is unfairly singled out by fate during a widespread crisis.
నేర్పుగల అమ్మ నేతితో అరిసెలు వండితే, ఓర్పుగల అమ్మ ఒళ్లో కట్టుకుపోయిందట
nerpugala amma netito ariselu vandite, orpugala amma ollo kattukupoyindata
When the clever lady had fried the cakes in Ghî, the patient lady walked off with them in her lap.
This proverb highlights that while skill and hard work are important for creation, patience and persistence are often what reap the final rewards. It is used to describe situations where someone else takes the benefit of another person's hard work because the latter lacked the patience or foresight to secure the results.
Atirasam is a sweet cake made of rice meal and syrup and fried, or rather boiled, in ghi. A cool trick.
అనుమానపు మొగుడు ఆలిని వీపుకు కట్టుకొంటే, పెండ్లాము మిండ మగనిని కొప్పులో పెట్టుకొన్నదట.
anumanapu mogudu alini vipuku kattukonte, pendlamu minda maganini koppulo pettukonnadata.
If a suspicious husband ties his wife to his back, the wife hides her lover in her hair bun.
This proverb highlights that extreme suspicion or over-protective control cannot prevent someone from being unfaithful if they intend to be. It suggests that if a person is determined to deceive, they will find a way regardless of how many restrictions or monitoring measures are put in place by a jealous partner.
కొండ తలకింద పెట్టుకుని రాళ్లు వెతికినట్టు
konda talakinda pettukuni rallu vetikinattu
Like putting a mountain under one's head and searching for stones.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone overlooks a massive, obvious resource or solution they already possess and instead wastes time searching for something trivial or insignificant elsewhere. It highlights human nature's tendency to ignore what is readily available and hunt for minor things.