పేరు కమలాక్షి, కండ్లేమో చీపురివి

peru kamalakshi, kandlemo chipurivi

Translation

The name is Kamala-akshi (Lotus-eyed), but the eyes are like broomsticks.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a situation where there is a stark contrast between a person's grand name or high claims and their actual reality or appearance. It mocks irony or hypocrisy, highlighting that names or titles often don't match the true quality of a person or thing.

Related Phrases

The name is Kamalaxi (lotus-eyed), but the sight is that of a crow.

This proverb is used to describe a person whose character or actions do not match their beautiful name or outward reputation. It highlights the irony when someone with a noble name behaves in a mean, suspicious, or crooked manner, much like a crow's restless and sharp gaze.

If the Kandleru flows like a trickle, it's a famine; if it flows fully, it's a festival.

This is a traditional agricultural saying from the Palnadu region of Andhra Pradesh regarding the Kandleru stream. It signifies that the prosperity of the farmers depends entirely on the water levels of the river. A small stream (trickle) indicates drought and crop failure, while a full flow ensures a bountiful harvest and celebration.

For the illiterate Virupaksha Deekshita, are twenty-one sweets a challenge?

This expression is used to describe someone who lacks knowledge or skill in a particular area but excels in consumption or simple physical tasks. It highlights a contrast between a lack of intellectual depth ('illiterate') and a huge appetite or capacity for material indulgence. It is often used sarcastically to refer to someone who is more interested in eating than learning.

Fortune favors the brave

This expression means that wealth and prosperity (Lakshmi) reside with those who possess courage and the willingness to take risks. It is used to encourage someone to be brave in the face of challenges, suggesting that success follows those who act boldly.

A new broom sweeps well

This expression is used to describe how a new person in a role or a new tool works very efficiently at the beginning. It suggests that enthusiasm or effectiveness is often highest when something or someone is brand new, similar to the English proverb 'A new broom sweeps clean.'

When asked what the dogs' worry was, he said to check if the Chitta Karthe (monsoon season) has started.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is overly anxious or obsessed with a specific recurring event or timing, often related to their primal instincts or desires. It refers to the mating season of dogs (Chitta Karthe), suggesting that some people are only concerned with things that satisfy their personal urges or specific seasons of opportunity.

Like tying a silk tassel to a broomstick.

This proverb describes a situation where something cheap, ugly, or low-quality is decorated with something expensive and elegant. It is used to mock a mismatch in status or quality, often referring to an unattractive person wearing expensive jewelry or an unworthy person being given high honors.

A broom as big as a tree in a house as big as Lanka.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where there is extreme scarcity or disproportionate lack of resources in an otherwise large or grand setting. It refers to a huge house or family that lacks even basic necessities, or when something very small and insignificant is the only notable thing in a massive space.

If Lakshanam is neglected it becomes Avalakshanam.

This expression means that a small flaw or a lapse in character can turn a virtue into a vice. It is used to caution people that maintaining one's good reputation or quality requires consistency, as even a minor deviation can lead to being perceived negatively.

There is a pun here on the word Lakshanam which as a noun signifies the ' rules of classic composition,' and as an adjective ' handsome.'—Ava- lakshanam means ' ugly,' ' deformed.'

A squint-eyed person's blessing for a blind person's wedding.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is incompetent or in a poor state themselves tries to help or bless someone else in an even worse position. It highlights the irony of seeking or receiving help from someone who lacks the capacity to be effective.