పంచపాండవులు అంటే మంచపు కోళ్ళలాగా ముగ్గురు కారని రెండంటూ ఒకటి చూపబోయి సున్నా చుట్టాడట
panchapandavulu ante manchapu kollalaga mugguru karani rendantu okati chupaboyi sunna chuttadata
When asked about the five Pandavas, he said they are like the four legs of a cot, showed three fingers, said they are two, pointed at one, and finally drew a zero.
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely ignorant or confused despite pretending to be knowledgeable. It mocks someone who starts with a simple fact but gets progressively more incorrect until they reach a state of total absurdity or nothingness. It highlights utter lack of clarity or competence in a subject.
Related Phrases
కోర్టు చుట్టూ తిరిగి కొల్లబోయినట్లు
kortu chuttu tirigi kollaboyinatlu
Like losing everything after wandering around the courts
This expression describes a situation where someone spends significant time, money, and effort pursuing justice or a resolution in a legal system, only to end up bankrupt or ruined in the process. It is used to caution against the exhausting nature of litigation where even if one 'wins', the cost of getting there leads to total loss.
మంచివాడు మంచివాడంటే, మంచమంతా కంతలు చేసినాడు.
manchivadu manchivadante, manchamanta kantalu chesinadu.
When called a good man, he made holes all over the cot.
This proverb describes a situation where someone takes undue advantage of the praise or kindness shown to them. It refers to people who, when trusted or given freedom due to their 'good' reputation, end up causing damage or acting irresponsibly. It is used to caution against blind trust or to describe someone who lacks common sense despite being called 'good'.
మఖ పంచకము సదా పంచకము
makha panchakamu sada panchakamu
Five days of Makha (rain) equals five months (of water/benefit).
This is a traditional agricultural proverb. It means that if it rains during the 'Makha' Karti (a specific period in the lunar calendar), the water received in those five days is as beneficial and sufficient as five months of regular rainfall. It emphasizes the importance of timely rain for a good harvest.
విచిత్రపు పచ్చిపులుసు ఈగలగొట్టి, తాలింపుపెట్టి ఇద్దరిని రమ్మంటే ముగ్గురు వచ్చారట.
vichitrapu pachchipulusu igalagotti, talimpupetti iddarini rammante mugguru vachcharata.
For the strange cold-soup, flies were swatted, seasoning was added, and when two people were invited, three arrived.
This proverb is used to describe a situation that is poorly managed or insufficient from the start. It mocks a person who prepares a meager, unhygienic dish (pachi pulusu) with great difficulty, only to find that even more guests than expected have arrived, making a bad situation even more awkward or ridiculous.
పాడు వూరికి మంచపు కోడు పోతరాజు
padu vuriki manchapu kodu potaraju
In a ruined village, the leg of a bed is Pôta Râzu.
This proverb describes a situation where, in the absence of capable leaders or quality options, even someone or something insignificant or mediocre is treated as superior or authoritative. It is used to mock the lack of standards in a declining or poor environment.
Pôta Râzu is a rustic deity.
పంచపాండవులంటే నాకు తెలియదా, మంచపుకోళ్లవలె ముగ్గురు అని రెండు వేళ్లు చూపించాడట.
panchapandavulante naku teliyada, manchapukollavale mugguru ani rendu vellu chupinchadata.
Don't I know about the five Pandavas? They are three in number like the legs of a bed, he said, while showing two fingers.
This expression is used to mock someone who pretends to have thorough knowledge about a subject but demonstrates complete ignorance or confusion through their explanation. It highlights a situation where someone claims expertise while making glaring, contradictory errors.
ముగ్గురు ఆడవారు కూడితే, పట్టపగలే చుక్కలు పొడుస్తవి
mugguru adavaru kudite, pattapagale chukkalu podustavi
When three women join together the stars come out in broad daylight. The above is taken from the following verse :— క॥ జగములు వణకవె యొకతెకు | నగణితముగ నిద్దరయిన నంబుధులింకు౯| ముగురాడ వారు గూడిన| సుగుణాకర పట్టపగలు చుక్కలు వెడుచు౯|| [ At the sight ] of one woman, will not the worlds tremble? When there are two the oceans will greatly sink ; when three women join together the stars will appear in broad daylight, O Possessor of good qualities !
This proverb is used to humorously or satirically suggest that when three women get together to talk, the resulting noise, gossip, or commotion is so intense that it can cause extraordinary or chaotic things to happen (metaphorically making stars appear during the day). It is often used to comment on excessive chatter or the potential for trouble when a specific group congregates.
రాతి ముగ్గు కోతి ముగ్గు
rati muggu koti muggu
A stone design and a monkey's design
This expression refers to something that is messy, disorganized, or poorly executed. It compares a drawing or task to a pattern made by a monkey or on rough stone, implying it lacks clarity, beauty, or skill. It is often used to describe bad handwriting or a chaotic situation.
పంచపాండవులు మంచం కోళ్లవలె ముగ్గురు అంటారేగాని, యిద్దరే అని వక వేలు చూపినాడట.
panchapandavulu mancham kollavale mugguru antaregani, yiddare ani vaka velu chupinadata.
"The five Pândavas they say are three like the legs of a bed, but there are only two," said he, showing one finger. Said of a stupid accountant.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks basic knowledge or consistency. It depicts someone so confused or ignorant that they contradict themselves multiple times in a single statement—stating the Pandavas (who are five) are three like cot legs (which are four), and then holding up one finger to indicate two. It is used to mock utter stupidity or a complete lack of logic.
మంచివాడు మంచివాడంటే, మంచమెక్కి గంతులు వేశాడటా.
manchivadu manchivadante, manchamekki gantulu veshadata.
When he was called a good man, he jumped onto the cot and started leaping.
This expression is used to describe someone who takes undue advantage of others' kindness or praise. It refers to a person who, when treated with respect or leniency, behaves recklessly or exceeds their boundaries due to overconfidence or lack of discipline.