ఒకటొకటిగా నూరా, ఒకటే మాటు నూరా?
okatokatiga nura, okate matu nura?
A hundred one by one, or a hundred at once ? Said in doubt of a person's liberality, as the " hundred" promised would probably turn out to mean only one.
This proverb is used to ask whether a task should be completed incrementally over time or all in one single effort. It is often used in situations involving debt repayment, workload management, or distribution of goods, highlighting the choice between gradual progress and a sudden, overwhelming action.
Related Phrases
వెన్నను సన్నగా నూరినట్లు.
vennanu sannaga nurinatlu.
Like grinding butter finely.
This expression is used to describe a process or an action that is redundant, unnecessary, or a waste of effort. Since butter is already soft and smooth, attempting to grind it further is pointless. It refers to over-refining something that is already at its best state or overthinking a simple matter.
రోగము ఒకటి, మందు ఒకటి
rogamu okati, mandu okati
The disease is one, the medicine is another. i. e. the one is not fitted to remove the other. Said of unsuitable remedies.
This expression is used to describe a situation where the solution provided does not match the problem at hand, or when actions taken are completely irrelevant to the actual issue. It highlights a lack of coordination or understanding in addressing a specific challenge.
గుడ్డి కన్ను మూసినా ఒకటే తెరిచినా ఒకటే
guddi kannu musina okate terichina okate
It matters not whether the blind eye is open or shut. A useless man's absence is as good as his presence.
This proverb is used to describe a situation or action that yields no benefit or makes no difference regardless of the effort or choice made. It refers to something that is fundamentally useless or redundant, where the outcome remains unchanged by any change in state.
ఒకచేతి వ్రేళ్ళే ఒకటిగా లేవు.
okacheti vrelle okatiga levu.
The fingers of one hand are not the same.
This expression is used to highlight that diversity and differences are natural. Just as the fingers on a single hand differ in size and shape, people—even within the same family or group—will have different talents, temperaments, or opinions. It is often used to counsel patience or to point out that one should not expect uniformity in human nature.
ఊబ నా మగడు ఉండీ ఒకటే లేకా ఒకటి
uba na magadu undi okate leka okati
My husband is a dummy; it's the same whether he is there or not.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is completely useless or ineffective. It implies that their presence provides no benefit, and their absence makes no difference, much like a decorative figure or a person with no initiative.
గుఱ్ఱాన్ని గాడిదను ఒకటిగా చూసినట్లు
gurranni gadidanu okatiga chusinatlu
Treating a horse and a donkey as the same.
This expression is used to describe a situation where no distinction is made between excellence and mediocrity, or between something valuable and something worthless. It highlights a lack of judgment or fairness when a person of great merit is treated the same as someone with none.
తుడుముకాడినుంచి దేవతార్చనదాకా ఒకటే మాట
tudumukadinunchi devatarchanadaka okate mata
From the tom-tom to the worship of the idols, he has but one word. Said of an ignorant man, who has but one idea in his noddle.
This expression is used to describe a person who remains consistent, stubborn, or repetitive regardless of the situation. It signifies someone who says the same thing or behaves the same way from the beginning to the end of a process, often used to point out a lack of flexibility or a persistent obsession with a single point.
ఒకటి చేయబోతే మరొకటి అయినట్లు
okati cheyabote marokati ayinatlu
Doing one thing and it becoming another
This expression is used to describe a situation where one's actions lead to an unexpected or unintended outcome, often despite good intentions. It is similar to the English phrase 'Backfiring' or 'Best-laid plans gone awry.' It describes a result that is completely different from what was originally planned.
పాము చిన్నదైనా ఒకటే, పెద్దదైనా ఒకటే
pamu chinnadaina okate, peddadaina okate
A snake is the same whether small or big.
This expression is used to signify that danger or an enemy should not be underestimated based on size or scale. Just as a small snake's venom can be as lethal as a large one's, a problem or opponent remains dangerous regardless of their stature.
ఒకటొకటిగా నూరా, ఒకటేమారు నూరా?
okatokatiga nura, okatemaru nura?
One by one a hundred, or a hundred all at once?
This proverb is used to question whether someone prefers to face troubles or tasks incrementally or all together in one go. It is often used in the context of discipline or consequences, asking if a person wants to be corrected for every small mistake or face one large punishment for everything combined.