పాతగోడకు పూత చక్కన, పాతముండకు కోక చక్కన
patagodaku puta chakkana, patamundaku koka chakkana
A new coat of paint makes an old wall look good, a new sari makes an old woman look good.
This proverb highlights the power of external appearances or enhancements. Just as a layer of whitewash or paint can hide the cracks and age of an old wall, dressing up or using cosmetics can improve one's outward appearance regardless of age. It is often used to remark on how external decorations can temporarily mask underlying flaws or aging.
Related Phrases
చిన్నక్కను పెద్దక్కను, పెద్దక్కను చిన్నక్కను చేసినట్లు
chinnakkanu peddakkanu, peddakkanu chinnakkanu chesinatlu
Like making the younger sister the older one, and the older sister the younger one.
This expression is used to describe a situation where things are completely mixed up, shuffled, or inverted. It refers to a state of total confusion or an illogical reversal of roles or order.
పనిలేక పటేలు ఇంటికి వెళితే, పాత గోడకు పూత పెట్టమన్నాడట
panileka patelu intiki velite, pata godaku puta pettamannadata
When someone went to the village head's house because they had no work, he told them to plaster an old wall.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where seeking help or engagement from someone in authority when idle results in being assigned a tedious, pointless, or unnecessary task. It suggests that it is sometimes better to be idle than to ask for work from those who will exploit your time with unproductive labor.
పాత చేటకు పూత అందం
pata chetaku puta andam
An old winnowing tray looks beautiful with a fresh coating.
This proverb suggests that even old or worn-out things can be made to look attractive with a little bit of decoration or a new layer of paint. It is often used to describe how makeup or new clothes can enhance a person's appearance, or how superficial improvements can hide the age or flaws of an object.
చక్కనమ్మ చిక్కినా, చక్కనయ్య సొక్కినా అందమే
chakkanamma chikkina, chakkanayya sokkina andame
Even if a beautiful woman becomes thin or a handsome man faints, they still look beautiful.
This proverb suggests that true beauty or quality does not fade easily even under unfavorable conditions. It is used to describe people or things that maintain their grace and value despite hardships, illness, or slight deterioration.
అక్కర ఉన్నంతవరకు ఆదినారాయణ, అక్కర తీరితే గూద నారాయణ
akkara unnantavaraku adinarayana, akkara tirite guda narayana
As long as there is a need, he is Adinarayana (God); once the need is fulfilled, he is Guda Narayana (worthless).
This proverb is used to describe opportunistic or selfish people who show great respect and devotion to someone only as long as they need a favor. Once their objective is achieved, they treat the same person with contempt or indifference.
ఇంత చక్కని పెళ్ళికి బాగా వాయించరా సన్నాయి
inta chakkani pelliki baga vayinchara sannayi
For such a beautiful wedding, play the nadaswaram well.
This expression is used sarcastically to describe a situation where things are already going wrong or are messy, and someone adds more chaos or makes a foolish mistake that worsens it. It implies that since a situation is already a 'spectacle' (in a bad way), one might as well finish it off with more noise or absurdity.
పాడు గోడకైనా పూత చక్కన, కోతి ముండకైనా రాత చక్కన
padu godakaina puta chakkana, koti mundakaina rata chakkana
Even a ruined wall looks good with a coat of plaster; even a monkey-faced woman looks good with makeup.
This proverb highlights that external decorations or makeup can temporarily mask inherent flaws or ugliness. It is often used to comment on how cosmetics or outward appearances can be deceptive, or to emphasize that presentation can make even a poor object or situation look attractive.
పాతముండ కలవరిస్తే కొత్తముండకు దయ్యం పట్టినట్లు
patamunda kalavariste kottamundaku dayyam pattinatlu
When the old widow babbles in her sleep, it is as if the new widow is possessed by a ghost.
This proverb describes a situation where an experienced person says something casually or out of habit, but an inexperienced or fearful person takes it too seriously and reacts with unnecessary panic. It highlights how fear and lack of experience can lead one to misinterpret a trivial situation as a major crisis.
చక్కనమ్మ చిక్కినా చక్కనే
chakkanamma chikkina chakkane
A beautiful woman is still beautiful even if she becomes thin.
This proverb is used to describe things or people of high quality or inherent value. It suggests that even if someone naturally beautiful loses weight or undergoes hardship, their underlying grace and quality remain evident. In a broader sense, it means that excellence cannot be hidden by temporary setbacks or physical changes.
చక్కనమ్మ చిక్కినా అందమే
chakkanamma chikkina andame
Even if a beautiful woman loses weight, she remains beautiful.
This expression is used to describe things or people of high quality that retain their value or essence even when they face hardship, poverty, or physical decline. Just as a naturally beautiful woman looks graceful even when she becomes thin, a truly valuable person or object doesn't lose its inherent worth due to temporary setbacks.