పనివాడు పందిరివేస్తే, పిచ్చుకలు వచ్చి పడదోశాయట
panivadu pandiriveste, pichchukalu vachchi padadoshayata
When a laborer built a pavilion, it is said that sparrows came and knocked it down.
This proverb is used to mock someone's incompetence or the extreme fragility of their work. It describes a situation where a task is performed so poorly that even the slightest, most insignificant force (like a sparrow) is enough to destroy it.
Related Phrases
ఇచ్చినవాడు దాత, ఇవ్వనివాడు పాత
ichchinavadu data, ivvanivadu pata
He who gives is a donor, he who does not give is a clout.
This expression highlights that generosity earns a person respect and a lasting legacy. A person who helps others is remembered as a benefactor, whereas someone who is stingy or refuses to help is quickly forgotten or disregarded by society. It is used to encourage charity and reflect on the social value of giving.
The impertinent speech of a beggar.
పాచి పండ్లవాడు తెచ్చి పెడితే బంగారు పండ్ల వాడు తినేశాడట.
pachi pandlavadu techchi pedite bangaru pandla vadu tineshadata.
While the one with dirty teeth brought it, the one with golden teeth ate it.
This proverb describes a situation where one person does all the hard work or struggles to earn something, but a more privileged or lucky person enjoys the benefits or rewards. It highlights the irony of labor versus enjoyment.
ఇచ్చిపుచ్చుకోనివాడు గిచ్చిగిచ్చి చంపె
ichchipuchchukonivadu gichchigichchi champe
The one who doesn't give or take killed by pinching repeatedly.
This proverb refers to a person who is extremely stingy or stubborn in dealings. Instead of resolving a situation through mutual exchange or compromise, such a person makes things miserable for others through petty, annoying, or persistent troubles (symbolized by pinching). It is used to describe the suffocating nature of dealing with someone who lacks the spirit of cooperation.
బంగారు పిచ్చుక
bangaru pichchuka
Golden sparrow
A term used to describe something or someone that is extremely precious, rare, or a person who brings great fortune and prosperity. In a metaphorical sense, it refers to a person with a heart of gold or a highly valuable asset/opportunity.
కోడలు వచ్చిన వేళ, కోడెలు వచ్చిన వేళ
kodalu vachchina vela, kodelu vachchina vela
The time the daughter-in-law arrived, the time the young bulls arrived.
This proverb is used to comment on coincidences, specifically when a new arrival in a family (like a daughter-in-law) is blamed or credited for significant events (like the birth of livestock or changes in fortune) that happen shortly after. It highlights how people often link luck or misfortune to a person's entry into the household.
బంగారపు పిచ్చుక
bangarapu pichchuka
A golden sparrow. The Telugu term for the grossbeak ( Loxia Philippina ). Pretty to look at but of no use.
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely precious, innocent, or fortunate. It is often used as a term of endearment for children or to refer to someone who brings prosperity and joy, similar to the English 'golden goose' but with a more affectionate and delicate connotation.
వడ్లు ఏదుం, పిచ్చుకలు పందుం.
vadlu edum, pichchukalu pandum.
Paddy is five units, but the sparrows are ten units.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the expenditure or waste exceeds the actual income or resource. It highlights scenarios where the cost of protecting or maintaining something is higher than the value of the object itself.
పిచ్చివాడికి లోకమంతా పిచ్చే
pichchivadiki lokamanta pichche
To a madman, the whole world is mad
This expression describes a cognitive bias where a person with a flawed perspective or specific obsession assumes that everyone else shares the same madness or is wrong. It is used to point out that one's perception of the world is often a reflection of their own state of mind.
వచ్చిన వాడు చచ్చినా పోదు.
vachchina vadu chachchina podu.
Calumny is not removed even by death.
This expression is used to describe a deeply ingrained habit, trait, or skill that stays with a person throughout their lifetime. It suggests that once something is learned or becomes part of a person's nature, it is nearly impossible to change or get rid of it.
Slander leaves a slur. Give a dog an ill name, and you may as well hang him.
పనిగలవాడు పందిరి వేస్తే, కుక్క తోక తగిలి కూలిపోయిందట.
panigalavadu pandiri veste, kukka toka tagili kulipoyindata.
When a skilled worker built a canopy, it supposedly collapsed just because a dog's tail touched it.
This is a sarcastic proverb used to mock someone's incompetence or lack of skill. It describes a situation where someone claims to be an expert, but the work they produce is so flimsy and poorly done that the slightest disturbance causes it to fail.