పెద్దవాన పెళ పెళా పడితే, చిన్నవాన నానుడు పడుతుంది.

peddavana pela pela padite, chinnavana nanudu padutundi.

Translation

While a heavy rain falls with a roar, a light rain causes a long soak.

Meaning

This proverb suggests that sudden, intense efforts or noisy actions often pass quickly without lasting effect, whereas slow, steady, and persistent efforts have a deeper and more significant impact. It is used to emphasize that consistency is more effective than short bursts of intensity.

Related Phrases

If there is sunlight there is life, if there is life there is cooking, if there is cooking there is food, and if there is food there is sleep.

This traditional proverb highlights the interconnectedness of nature and human survival. It emphasizes that the sun is the primary source of life (agriculture/sustenance), which leads to domestic stability, the ability to prepare meals, nourishment, and ultimately, the comfort of rest. It is used to describe the natural order of life and the importance of favorable conditions for prosperity.

Will a household that fell into the Ganges ever reach the shore?

This proverb is used to describe a situation or life that has been completely ruined or devastated beyond recovery. Just as something swept away by a powerful river like the Ganges is unlikely to be recovered, a family or business that has faced total downfall due to bad habits or extreme misfortune rarely returns to its former glory.

When the buffalo dies, it comes out how much milk she gave.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where the true value, contribution, or secrets of a person are only fully realized or disclosed after they are gone or when a resource is lost. It often implies that someone was exaggerating their worth or productivity while they were active.

A fully ripened fruit will fall on its own.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a natural outcome or a result occurs automatically when the time is right, without needing external force. It suggests patience, implying that when a process is complete or a person is mature enough, the transition or consequence will happen naturally.

Younger mother-in-law is a small ghost, elder mother-in-law is a big ghost.

This proverb is used to describe a difficult situation where both available options or people are troublesome, regardless of their status or seniority. It specifically highlights the common domestic trope of friction with mothers-in-law (or aunts), suggesting that both are equally difficult to deal with, differing only in the scale of their nuisance.

No matter how large the eyes are, it is beauty; no matter how large the breasts are, it is youth.

This proverb highlights that certain attributes are considered more desirable or indicative of positive qualities as they increase in size. It is used to describe things that are inherently good and do not become a burden or a defect even when they are large or plentiful.

A tile with oil on it will never explode.

This proverb suggests that as long as there is some substance or value (oil) remaining in a person or situation, it will not crumble or face immediate disaster. It is often used to imply that someone with inner strength or resources will not break under pressure, or that a situation with potential still has hope.

The girl is small, but her earring is big.

This expression is used to describe a situation where an accessory, a side issue, or a minor detail overshadows the main person or subject. It is often applied when someone wears ornaments or clothes that are disproportionately large for their stature, or when the overhead costs of a project exceed the actual value of the project itself.

If it rains while the sun is shining, it is a foxes' wedding.

This is a popular folk saying used to describe the weather phenomenon known as a 'sunshower' (simultaneous rain and sunshine). In Telugu culture, it is traditionally joked that such unusual weather marks the celebration of a wedding among foxes.

A massive lightning bolt fell upon the poor man.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a person who is already struggling or living in poverty is struck by a major, unexpected disaster or misfortune. It highlights the cruelty of fate where those with the least resources are often the ones hit hardest by life's calamities.