నీ ఎడమ చెయ్యి తీయి, నా పుర్ర చెయ్యి పెడతాను
ni edama cheyyi tiyi, na purra cheyyi pedatanu
Take away your left hand, I will use my sinister hand.
This expression is used to describe a redundant or meaningless action where one thing is replaced by something identical or equally ineffective. It highlights a situation where there is no real change or improvement despite the movement or effort, often used to mock someone suggesting a solution that is the same as the current problem.
As broad as long.
Related Phrases
పొరుగింటి నెయ్యి, పెండ్లాము చెయ్యి
poruginti neyyi, pendlamu cheyyi
Neighbor's ghee, wife's hand.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is overly generous or extravagant because the resources being used do not belong to them. It implies that people tend to spend or give away others' wealth much more freely than they would their own.
కుడిచెయ్యి చేసే దానం ఎడమచెయ్యికి తెలియకూడదు
kudicheyyi chese danam edamacheyyiki teliyakudadu
The charity done by the right hand should not be known by the left hand.
This expression emphasizes the importance of anonymous or humble charity. It suggests that when you help someone, you should do it quietly without seeking fame, recognition, or boasting about your generosity to others.
మొదటికే మోసం, మొండిచెయ్యి చూపించడం
modatike mosam, mondicheyyi chupinchadam
Loss at the very beginning and showing an empty hand.
This expression is used when a plan fails right at the start, leading to a total loss. 'Mondi cheyyi chupinchadam' specifically means to cheat, refuse to help, or leave someone empty-handed after promising something.
ఉడుము పోయినా చెయ్యి వస్తే చాలును.
udumu poyina cheyyi vaste chalunu.
Never mind if I lose the guana, if I get my hand out it's enough.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where one is willing to give up a potential gain or an asset just to escape from a dangerous or stuck position. It signifies that safety and liberation are more important than the original objective when things go wrong.
Said by a man whose hand had been caught by a guana in a hole. Catching a Tartar.
ఎముక లేని చెయ్యి
emuka leni cheyyi
A hand without a bone
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely generous and charitable. Just as a hand without a bone would be flexible and unable to close or withhold, it refers to someone who gives freely to others without hesitation or stinginess.
చెయ్యి తిరగ చేసినా చాటనిండా పెట్టరు.
cheyyi tiraga chesina chataninda pettaru.
Even if you move your hand upside down, they won't put enough to fill a winnowing tray.
This proverb is used to describe extremely stingy or miserly people. It suggests that no matter how much effort one puts in or how much one asks, a miser will never be generous enough to give a substantial amount.
పొరిగింటి చూడరా నా పెద్ద చెయ్యి
poriginti chudara na pedda cheyyi
Look in my neighbour's house, and see how openhanded I am! When I distribute his alms.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is very generous or charitable with other people's resources or money, but stingy with their own. It satirizes the hypocrisy of someone showing off their 'greatness' at the expense of others.
It is easy to be generous out of another man's purse. (Danish.)* Broad thongs are cut from other men's leather. (Latin.)!
విస్తరి చిన్నది, వీకమ్మ చెయ్యి పెద్దది
vistari chinnadi, vikamma cheyyi peddadi
The leaf plate is small, but Veekamma's hand is large
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is overly generous or extravagant despite having very limited resources. It refers to a person serving more than what the plate (or the budget) can actually hold, highlighting a mismatch between one's means and their actions.
ఏడుపులో ఏడుపు ఎడమ చెయ్యి బయట పెట్టుమన్నట్టు.
edupulo edupu edama cheyyi bayata pettumannattu.
Show your [ withered ] left hand and add to their grief. The story is that after a marriage the bridegroom was found to be a fool, which caused much regret to the family of the bride. The bride- groom's friends then told him to show the withered state of his left hand which he had hitherto concealed. Making bad matters worse.
This proverb describes a situation where someone adds a trivial or irrelevant task/request to a person who is already in deep distress or overwhelmed by a significant problem. It is used when a person lacks empathy and makes an untimely request during a crisis.
కంకణాల చెయ్యి ఆడితే, కడియాల చెయ్యి ఆడును.
kankanala cheyyi adite, kadiyala cheyyi adunu.
If the hand with Kankaṇamulu moves, the hand with Kaḍiyamulu moves also. Kankaṇamulu are bracelets worn by women. Kaḍiyamulu are those worn by men. Where woman leads man follows.
This proverb highlights the interdependency within a household or society. 'Hand with bangles' refers to the woman (traditionally managing the kitchen/home), and 'hand with bracelets' refers to the man (traditionally the earner). It means that when the woman works to cook and manage the house, the man can eat and have the strength to work, or more broadly, that domestic stability is the foundation for external success.