ఓలో సగం చెప్ప నాయనా అన్నాడట

olo sagam cheppa nayana annadata

Translation

Please say at least half of the letter 'O', my son, he said.

Meaning

This expression is used to mock someone who is extremely lazy, slow to learn, or completely uncooperative even when the task is simplified to the smallest possible degree. It refers to a humorous situation where a teacher or parent is so frustrated by a student's silence that they beg for even a tiny fraction of a simple sound/letter just to see some progress.

Related Phrases

Having such a big book under your arm, can't you tell the almanac?

This proverb is used to mock someone who possesses all the necessary resources, tools, or appearances of knowledge but lacks the actual ability or skill to perform the task. It highlights the irony of having the means without the competence.

Half weaver's weaving, half laborer's weaving

This proverb is used to describe work that is inconsistent, fragmented, or lacks uniformity. It refers to a task performed by people with different styles or skill levels, resulting in a product that is not seamless or professionally finished. It is often applied to situations where multiple people handle a single job without coordination, leading to a messy outcome.

Half purity, half impurity.

This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks consistency or a situation that is neither here nor there. It refers to someone who tries to follow traditional customs (purity) but fails to do so completely (impurity), resulting in a state of confusion or hypocrisy. It characterizes an inconsistent or messy approach to tasks.

When asked to tell things as they are, she asked what the food she ate did.

This proverb is used to describe a person who, when asked for an honest or straightforward opinion, brings up irrelevant personal grievances or reacts with unexpected defensiveness/deflection. It highlights the tendency of some people to shift the topic to their own dissatisfaction instead of being objective.

You should tell someone through persuasion or fear, but how is it right to cut their tongue?

This expression is used to suggest that one should use diplomacy, gentle persuasion, or subtle warnings (carrots and sticks) to get someone to listen, rather than resorting to extreme, irreversible, or cruel punishments. It emphasizes that corrective measures should be proportionate and aimed at reform rather than destruction.

In O teach me half, O father! Said by a spoilt child who wished his father to teach him half a letter at a time.

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely lazy or lacks the patience to listen to even a small piece of information. It refers to a humorous situation where someone finds it too burdensome to hear a single letter and asks for it to be shortened, highlighting extreme lethargy or ignorance.

When asked to judge a dispute, Nagireddy said even he has two wives.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is expected to solve a problem or give advice instead starts complaining about their own personal problems. It refers to an incompetent or overwhelmed person who diverts from the matter at hand by sharing their own unrelated struggles.

Half weaver's weave, half scavenger's weave

This expression refers to a task or piece of work that is done inconsistently or in a haphazard manner. It describes something that is neither here nor there, lacking a uniform standard or quality because it was handled by different people with different skill levels or methods. It is used to criticize a job that lacks perfection and coherence.

By mildness or severity. If one does not answer, the other must be tried.

This expression refers to a strategy of using both persuasion (friendly approach) and intimidation (threats) to get something done. It is equivalent to the English idiom 'by hook or by crook' or 'the carrot and the stick' approach.

When asked 'Son-in-law, when did you arrive?', he replied 'Shall I tell you about the Vadas cooked last night?'

This proverb is used to describe someone who inadvertently reveals a secret or exposes their own guilt while trying to answer a simple question. It refers to a situation where a person's guilty conscience or preoccupation with a hidden act leads them to give an irrelevant, self-incriminating answer.