సంధ్య వార్చావా అంటే, ఊరి వెలుపల గుంటలో వార్చాను అన్నాడట; ఆ గుంటలో నీళ్లు లేవు కదా అంటే, చాకలి సుబ్బడు ఉన్నాయని చెప్పాడు అన్నాడట.
sandhya varchava ante, uri velupala guntalo varchanu annadata; a guntalo nillu levu kada ante, chakali subbadu unnayani cheppadu annadata.
When asked if he performed his evening prayers, he said he did them in a pond outside the village; when told there was no water in that pond, he replied that Subbadu the washerman told him there was.
This proverb is used to describe a person who tells a series of lies to cover up their laziness or negligence. Instead of admitting they didn't do the task, they fabricate an elaborate story and cite unreliable witnesses when their lies are questioned. It highlights the absurdity of making excuses for failing to perform basic duties.
Related Phrases
ఉచ్చ గుంటలో చేపలు పట్టినట్లు
uchcha guntalo chepalu pattinatlu
Like catching fish in a puddle of urine
This expression is used to describe someone who is extremely petty or miserly, or someone who tries to gain profit from very small, insignificant, or even disgusting sources. It highlights a person's narrow-mindedness and their tendency to exploit trivial situations for personal gain.
ఉపాయము చెప్పవయ్యా అంటే, ఉరిత్రాడు తెచ్చుకొమ్మన్నాడట.
upayamu cheppavayya ante, uritradu techchukommannadata.
When asked for a solution, he told them to bring a hangman's noose.
This proverb describes a situation where someone asks for helpful advice or a solution to a problem, but receives a suggestion that is destructive, fatal, or worsens the situation. It is used to criticize foolish or malicious advice that leads to one's own downfall.
దరిద్రుడికి సద్ది కట్టిస్తే, ఊరి వెలుపల కుంటకాడనే భోంచేసి పోయినాడట.
daridrudiki saddi kattiste, uri velupala kuntakadane bhonchesi poyinadata.
When a poor man was given packed food, he ate it right at the pond outside the village and left.
This proverb describes a person with a 'poverty mindset' or someone who lacks foresight. Despite being given a valuable resource or an opportunity that could have lasted, their lack of patience or low standards causes them to consume or waste it immediately without reaching a better destination or goal.
మొదలు లేదు సుబ్బక్కా అంటే ముంతెడీ పెద్దక్కా అన్నదట
modalu ledu subbakka ante muntedi peddakka annadata
When one says 'Subbakka, there is no beginning/stock,' the other says 'I want a vessel full, Peddakka.'
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone makes a demand or a request without understanding that the basic requirements or resources are completely unavailable. It highlights a lack of common sense or the absurdity of asking for a specific quantity when there is nothing to start with in the first place.
ఓలో సగం చెప్పు నాయనా అన్నాడట
olo sagam cheppu nayana annadata
In O teach me half, O father! Said by a spoilt child who wished his father to teach him half a letter at a time.
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely lazy or lacks the patience to listen to even a small piece of information. It refers to a humorous situation where someone finds it too burdensome to hear a single letter and asks for it to be shortened, highlighting extreme lethargy or ignorance.
ఓలో సగం చెప్ప నాయనా అన్నాడట
olo sagam cheppa nayana annadata
Please say at least half of the letter 'O', my son, he said.
This expression is used to mock someone who is extremely lazy, slow to learn, or completely uncooperative even when the task is simplified to the smallest possible degree. It refers to a humorous situation where a teacher or parent is so frustrated by a student's silence that they beg for even a tiny fraction of a simple sound/letter just to see some progress.
వాన కురుస్తున్నది నాయనా అంటే, కురవనీలే అనగా అట్లనే కురవనిస్తాలే అన్నాడట.
vana kurustunnadi nayana ante, kuravanile anaga atlane kuravanistale annadata.
When told 'It is raining, dear,' the person replied 'Let it rain,' and further added 'Indeed, I will allow it to rain.'
This expression is used to mock someone who pretends to have control over natural events or situations they have no power over. It describes a person's arrogance or foolishness in 'giving permission' for something that is already happening and is completely beyond their authority.
ఏ గుంటలో నీరు ఆ గుంటలోనే ఇంకుతుంది.
e guntalo niru a guntalone inkutundi.
The water in a pit will soak back into the same pit.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where money, resources, or efforts remain within the same circle, family, or system without going outside. It is often applied to business transactions within a family or internal adjustments where there is no net loss or gain to the external world.
మగ్గం గుంతలో పాముంది, మగాళ్ళుంటే పిలవ్వే అన్నాడట.
maggam guntalo pamundi, magallunte pilavve annadata.
There is a snake in the loom pit, go call any men if they are around, he said.
This proverb is used to mock a person who claims to be brave or masculine but shows cowardice in the face of danger. It describes a situation where a man, instead of dealing with a problem himself, asks a woman to find 'real men' to help, thereby exposing his own weakness and lack of courage.
టెంకాయ చెట్టెందుకు ఎక్కినావురా అంటే దూడగడ్డి కోసమన్నాడట, గడ్డి చెట్టుపైన ఉంటుందా అంటే లేదు కాబట్టే దిగివస్తున్నానన్నాడట కాయల దొంగ.
tenkaya chettenduku ekkinavura ante dudagaddi kosamannadata, gaddi chettupaina untunda ante ledu kabatte digivastunnanannadata kayala donga.
When a thief was asked why he climbed the coconut tree, he said it was for calf grass; when told grass doesn't grow on trees, he said that's why he was coming down.
This expression is used to describe a person who gives a foolish, illogical, or absurd excuse when caught red-handed. It highlights the tendency of people to make up desperate and silly justifications to cover up their mistakes or crimes even when the lie is obvious.