పప్పవంటకత్తెను బండిమీద తెస్తే, ఎసురుకు ఎన్ని ముంతలు పెట్టేది అన్నదట.
pappavantakattenu bandimida teste, esuruku enni muntalu pettedi annadata.
When a dal-cooking specialist was brought on a cart, she asked how many pots of water should be boiled.
This proverb is used to mock someone who pretends to be a great expert or professional in a simple task but asks the most basic, common-sense questions. It highlights the irony of giving too much importance to someone for a trivial skill, only for them to display incompetence or a lack of basic knowledge.
Related Phrases
వెతికి వెతికి వెయ్యి బళ్ళమీద వంటలక్కను తెస్తే, తగలేని మిగలలేని తోటకూరకి, తొడలోతు ఎసరు పెట్టమందట.
vetiki vetiki veyyi ballamida vantalakkanu teste, tagaleni migalaleni totakuraki, todalotu esaru pettamandata.
When a cook was brought with great effort on a thousand carts, she asked for thigh-deep water to cook a tiny bunch of amaranth leaves.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is supposedly an expert or highly sought-after professional turns out to be incompetent or lacks common sense. It highlights the irony of putting in immense effort to find someone 'special' only for them to make ridiculous or wasteful demands for a simple task.
ఊరే చేరవద్దు రౌతా అంటే, గుర్రాన్ని ఎక్కడ కట్టేది అన్నాడట?
ure cheravaddu rauta ante, gurranni ekkada kattedi annadata?
When a trooper was told not to come into the village, he asked where he was to put up his horse.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks common sense or ignores a larger rejection to focus on a trivial detail. It highlights the behavior of someone who misses the main point (not being welcome at all) and asks about a minor logistical matter (parking or stabling).
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పోతున్నానంటే నీయంత పోతుకు మేతేడ తెచ్చేది అన్నాడట.
potunnanante niyanta potuku meteda techchedi annadata.
When someone said they were leaving, the other replied, 'Who will bring fodder for the ox?'
This proverb is used to describe a person who is extremely selfish and lacks empathy. It highlights a situation where someone expresses their departure or pain, but the listener is only concerned about their own needs or who will perform the departing person's chores. It is used to mock people who only care about their work getting done.
ఎన్నడూ ఎరుగనివాణ్ణి ఎద్దుల బేరానికి పంపితే, ఎర్రెద్దుకు ఎనభై, నల్లెద్దుకు నలభై అన్నాడట
ennadu eruganivanni eddula beraniki pampite, erredduku enabhai, nalledduku nalabhai annadata
When a person who knows nothing was sent to trade oxen, he priced the red ox at eighty and the black ox at forty.
This proverb is used to describe an inexperienced or ignorant person who makes arbitrary decisions based on superficial appearances rather than actual value or logic. It highlights the foolishness of assigning tasks to someone who lacks the necessary expertise, as their judgment will be baseless and likely incorrect.
కాటేసేది చెరుకు, పట్టేది హనుమంతుడు
katesedi cheruku, pattedi hanumantudu
The one who bites is the sugarcane, the one who catches it is Hanuman.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone performs a difficult task but the credit or the consequence goes to someone else, or when expectations are mismatched with reality. It is often a humorous take on misattribution or the peculiar nature of a task.
వంటలక్కను వయలుబండిమీద తెచ్చి, తోటకూరకు ఎసరెంత అంటే, చంకచేతెడు పెట్టమన్నదట.
vantalakkanu vayalubandimida techchi, totakuraku esarenta ante, chankachetedu pettamannadata.
When a professional cook was brought on a palanquin and asked how much water is needed for amaranth leaves curry, she reportedly said, 'A handful's depth.'
This proverb is used to describe people who put on great airs of expertise or demand high status, but reveal their utter incompetence or lack of basic knowledge when put to work. It mocks the irony of treating someone like an expert (bringing them on a royal transport) only for them to give a ridiculous or unscientific answer to a simple question.
పట్టేవర్ధనం పెట్టేను పాదపూజ చేయమన్నాడట
pattevardhanam pettenu padapuja cheyamannadata
He asked for a feet-washing ceremony while being confined to a narrow wooden plank.
This expression is used to describe a person who, despite being in a pitiable or destitute condition, demands excessive respect or luxuries. It mocks the irony of having 'high tastes' or 'big demands' when one doesn't even have basic necessities.
కాకరకాయకు కంతలు ఎన్ని అంటే ములగకాయకు ముంగ్లెన్ని అన్నాడట.
kakarakayaku kantalu enni ante mulagakayaku munglenni annadata.
When asked how many bumps a bitter gourd has, he asked how many ridges a drumstick has.
This proverb describes a situation where someone answers a question with another irrelevant or counter-question to avoid admitting ignorance. It is used when someone tries to cover up their lack of knowledge by being argumentative or evasive.
నడవడికలు చక్కబెట్టేది నాటకము.
nadavadikalu chakkabettedi natakamu.
A play (drama) is what rectifies one's conduct.
This expression highlights the educational and reformative power of theater and art. It suggests that watching or performing in plays helps individuals observe human nature, distinguish between right and wrong, and ultimately refine their behavior and character.
అంటక ముట్టక దేవరకు పెట్టుతున్నాను, ఆశపడకండి బిడ్డలారా అవతలికి పొండి అన్నదట.
antaka muttaka devaraku pettutunnanu, ashapadakandi biddalara avataliki pondi annadata.
Without touching or handling I offer it to the deity, don't wish for it O children! Be off!
This proverb is used to describe hypocritical or selfish behavior where someone pretends to be performing a selfless or pious act (like an offering to God) solely as an excuse to avoid sharing with those in need. It highlights the irony of someone using religious devotion to mask their stinginess towards their own family or children.