పోతే మొగుడు పొయ్యాడు కానీ పొన్నకాయలా కుదిరింది తల
pote mogudu poyyadu kani ponnakayala kudirindi tala
The husband may be gone, but the head has turned out like a Ponna fruit.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is overly focused on a trivial or superficial gain while suffering a massive, tragic loss. It satirizes a person who prioritizes vanity or minor details over significant life disasters, such as a widow being more concerned with the shape of her shaved head than the death of her husband.
Related Phrases
పిచ్చి కుదిరింది రోకలి తలకు చుట్టమన్నాడట
pichchi kudirindi rokali talaku chuttamannadata
He said the madness is cured, now wrap a pestle around my head
This proverb is used to describe someone who claims to be reformed or cured of a problem but immediately suggests something equally absurd or foolish. It highlights a situation where there is no real improvement despite claims to the contrary, or when someone's inherent nature remains unchanged.
మొగుడు లేకపోతే అప్ప మొగుడు, కూర లేకపోతే పప్పకూర.
mogudu lekapote appa mogudu, kura lekapote pappakura.
If a husband is not there, then the elder sister's husband; if a curry is not there, then dal.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone settles for a substitute or an alternative when the original or preferred choice is unavailable. It highlights the human tendency to find a replacement, sometimes even an inappropriate or simplified one, just to fill a void.
ఏడ్చేదాని మొగుడు వస్తే, నా మొగుడూ వస్తాడు
edchedani mogudu vaste, na mogudu vastadu
If the crying woman's husband returns, my husband will return too.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone waits for others to act or succeed before taking initiative themselves, or a situation where one's fate is tied to the general outcome of a group. It is often used to mock someone who lacks independent drive and simply follows the crowd's luck or progress.
ఏడిచేదాని మొగుడు వస్తే, నా మొగుడూ వస్తాడు
edichedani mogudu vaste, na mogudu vastadu
If the weeping widow's husband returns, mine will come also. Stolid indifference. Want of feeling.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone's own success or progress is entirely dependent on another person's outcome. It reflects a state of helplessness or a wait-and-see approach, implying 'if it can happen for them, it will eventually happen for me too.'
పోయిన మగడు పోయినా, పొన్నకాయలా గుండు కుదిరింది
poyina magadu poyina, ponnakayala gundu kudirindi
Even if the husband is gone, the head shave is as perfect as a Ponnakaaya fruit.
A sarcastic expression used to describe a situation where someone overlooks a major loss or disaster and instead focuses on a trivial or insignificant detail that turned out well. It highlights a misplaced sense of priority or an inappropriate focus on minor aesthetics/outcomes amidst a tragedy.
శింగన్న అద్దంకి పోనూ పొయ్యాడు, రానూ వచ్చాడు.
shinganna addanki ponu poyyadu, ranu vachchadu.
Shinganna went to Addanki and he came back.
This proverb describes a person who undertakes a long or difficult task but returns without achieving anything or completing the purpose of the trip. It is used to mock someone's inefficiency, pointlessness of an action, or a wasted effort where the end result is the same as the starting point.
పందిరి ఇల్లూ కాదు, పరదేశి మొగుడూ కాదు
pandiri illu kadu, paradeshi mogudu kadu
A shed is not a house, and a traveler is not a husband.
This proverb describes temporary or unreliable situations. Just as a temporary thatched shed (pandiri) cannot provide the permanence and security of a real home, a stranger or traveler who is just passing through cannot fulfill the long-term responsibilities of a life partner. It is used to caution against relying on things or people that lack stability or commitment.
నన్నమ్మకు మొగుడు, తిమ్మన్న తల్లికి మొగుడు.
nannammaku mogudu, timmanna talliki mogudu.
A husband to Nannamma, and a husband to Timmanna's mother.
This expression is used to describe someone who is extremely clever, cunning, or a 'know-it-all' who thinks they can outsmart anyone. It refers to a person who claims superiority over those who are already considered experts or authorities in a particular field, often used in a sarcastic tone to highlight someone's overconfidence or manipulative nature.
బ్రహ్మచారి ముదిరినా, బెండకాయ ముదిరినా, లంజ ముదిరినా పనికిరాదు
brahmachari mudirina, bendakaya mudirina, lanja mudirina panikiradu
An aging bachelor, an overripe okra, and an aging prostitute are of no use.
This is a traditional Telugu proverb used to describe things or people that lose their value, utility, or charm once they pass their prime. Just as an overripe okra becomes too fibrous to cook, certain roles or states of being become problematic or ineffective if they persist too long beyond their ideal time.
చెట్టు పెట్టిన వాడు నీళ్లు పొయ్యడా?
chettu pettina vadu nillu poyyada?
Will he who planted the tree not water it?
This proverb expresses faith in providence or destiny. It implies that the creator or the person who initiated a task will also take responsibility for its sustenance and well-being. It is often used to reassure someone that their basic needs will be met by the divine or by those who brought them into a certain situation.
Will God not support the creatures of his hand? Said by a man who has lost his means of support. God never sends mouths but he sends meat.