సవాశేరులో బోడి పరాచకమా?
savasherulo bodi parachakama?
A joke in a quarter-and-a-seer measure?
This proverb is used to criticize someone who makes inappropriate jokes or behaves lightheartedly during a serious, critical, or difficult situation. It implies that when things are already tense or scarce, there is no room for silliness.
Related Phrases
సేరుకు సవాసేరు
seruku savaseru
A quarter more for every seer.
This expression is used to describe a situation where one person encounters someone even more capable, clever, or dominant than themselves. It is equivalent to the English idiom 'to meet one's match' or 'diamond cuts diamond.' It highlights that there is always someone superior to any given individual.
శ్రీరామ రక్ష అంటే లంకలో బోడికోతి అన్నాడంట.
shrirama raksha ante lankalo bodikoti annadanta.
When someone said 'May Lord Rama protect us', he replied 'There is a hairless monkey in Lanka'.
This expression is used to describe someone who gives an irrelevant or nonsensical answer to a serious statement, or someone who is completely out of touch with the context of a conversation. It highlights a lack of comprehension or a deliberate attempt to be evasive by bringing up something unrelated.
మఖ పంచకము సదా పంచకము
makha panchakamu sada panchakamu
Five days of Makha (rain) equals five months (of water/benefit).
This is a traditional agricultural proverb. It means that if it rains during the 'Makha' Karti (a specific period in the lunar calendar), the water received in those five days is as beneficial and sufficient as five months of regular rainfall. It emphasizes the importance of timely rain for a good harvest.
అయ్య సవాసేరు, లింగం అరవీశెడు
ayya savaseru, lingam aravishedu
The master is a quarter-and-a-seer, while the Lingam is half-a-visha.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a subordinate, accessory, or appendage exceeds the master or the main object in size, cost, or importance. It highlights the absurdity of an overhead or an attachment being more burdensome than the primary entity itself.
పూబోడి అంటే, ఎవర్రా బోడి? నీ అమ్మబోడి, నీ అక్కబోడి అన్నదట.
pubodi ante, evarra bodi? ni ammabodi, ni akkabodi annadata.
When called 'flower-like maiden' (Pubodi), she replied 'Who is bald? Your mother is bald, your sister is bald'.
This proverb describes a situation where an ignorant person takes offense at a compliment or a sophisticated term because they misunderstand its meaning. 'Pubodi' is a poetic term for a beautiful woman (flower-like body), but the person in the proverb hears 'Bodi' (bald/shaven head) and reacts with insults due to their lack of vocabulary and quick temper.
అంతంత కోడికి అర్ధసేరు మసాలా
antanta kodiki ardhaseru masala
Half a kilo of masala for such a tiny chicken.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the overhead or the effort spent on a task is far greater than the value of the task itself. It mocks disproportionate spending, over-preparation for minor issues, or when expenses exceed the actual worth of an item.
మనసెరుగని అబద్ధము ఉన్నదా?
manaserugani abaddhamu unnada?
Is there a lie unknown to the heart ?
This expression means that while one can lie to the world, it is impossible to deceive one's own conscience. Every individual is internally aware of the truth regardless of the falsehoods they speak outwardly. It is often used to emphasize self-accountability and the fact that one cannot hide from their own thoughts.
సవాకోటి లింగాలలో నా బోడి లింగం
savakoti lingalalo na bodi lingam
Among a crore and a quarter Shiva Lingas, my small/bald Linga.
This expression is used to describe a situation where an individual or a small entity is lost or goes unnoticed in a massive crowd or a vast collection. It signifies insignificance or the lack of individual identity when part of a huge group.
వూళ్ళో అందరూ బోడి అంటే, నీ అమ్మ బోడి, నీ అక్క బోడి అందట.
vullo andaru bodi ante, ni amma bodi, ni akka bodi andata.
When someone said the whole village is bald, she replied 'Your mother is bald, your sister is bald'.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks common sense or the ability to understand general context. Instead of understanding that a statement refers to a collective group (including themselves), they take it as a personal insult and react defensively by insulting the speaker back.
శెట్టి ఏరు, బుడ్డ సవాసేరు
shetti eru, budda savaseru
The merchant weighs one 'seru', but his belly weighs one and a quarter 'seru'.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the overhead, side issues, or secondary components of a task are greater or more significant than the main thing itself. It highlights ironical situations where the appendage exceeds the original in size or importance.