సెబాష్ మద్దెలగాడా అంటే, ఐదు వేళ్లు పగులగొట్టుకున్నాడట
sebash maddelagada ante, aidu vellu pagulagottukunnadata
When someone said 'Well done, drummer!', he supposedly broke all five of his fingers.
This expression is used to describe someone who gets overly excited or carried away by a small amount of praise and ends up hurting themselves or causing damage through over-enthusiasm. It serves as a warning against being reckless or losing one's head due to flattery.
Related Phrases
అత్త కూడు వండమన్నదే కానీ, కుండ పగులగొట్టమన్నదా?
atta kudu vandamannade kani, kunda pagulagottamannada?
The mother-in-law asked to cook the food, but did she ask to break the pot?
This proverb is used when someone makes a mistake or causes damage while performing a simple task and tries to justify it or shift the blame. It highlights that being given a responsibility does not give one the license to be reckless or destructive. It is often used to criticize someone who oversteps their bounds or acts carelessly while doing a favor.
ఆడలేక మద్దెల ఓటి అన్నట్లు
adaleka maddela oti annatlu
Like saying the drum is broken because one cannot dance.
This expression is used to describe a person who lacks skill or fails at a task but blames their tools, environment, or others for their failure. It is equivalent to the English proverb 'A bad workman always blames his tools'.
పాడికుండ పగులగొట్టుకొన్నట్లు
padikunda pagulagottukonnatlu
Like breaking the milk-yielding pot oneself
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone foolishly destroys their own source of livelihood, prosperity, or a highly beneficial resource through their own reckless actions or bad temper.
దున్నపోతు లాగున్నావు తేలుమంత్రం తెలియదా? అన్నాడట.
dunnapotu lagunnavu telumantram teliyada? annadata.
He said, 'You look as big as a buffalo, yet you don't know the scorpion charm?'
This is a sarcastic expression used to mock someone who possesses great physical size or strength but lacks basic common sense or a specific simple skill. It highlights the irony of having a large stature without the expected mental capability or practical knowledge to handle a small problem.
ఆడలేక మద్దెల ఓడు అన్నట్లు
adaleka maddela odu annatlu
Like a dancer who says the drum is bad because she cannot dance.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks skill or makes a mistake, but blames their tools, environment, or others instead of admitting their own incompetence. It is equivalent to the English proverb 'A bad workman always blames his tools.'
ఎత్తుకున్న బిడ్డ మొత్తుకున్నా ఆగదు
ettukunna bidda mottukunna agadu
A child in arms won't stop crying even if you hit it.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where one is forced to endure a burden or responsibility they have voluntarily taken up. Once you have committed to helping someone or taking on a task (lifting the child), you must bear the consequences and difficulties (the crying/trouble) that come with it until the end.
రోలు వెళ్ళి మద్దెలతో మొర పెట్టుకున్నదట.
rolu velli maddelato mora pettukunnadata.
The mortar went and complained to the drum.
This proverb is used when someone who is suffering a lot goes to complain to someone who is suffering even more. It highlights the irony of seeking sympathy from someone in a worse situation, as the mortar is struck on one side while the drum is beaten on both sides.
రోలు పోయి మద్దెలతో మొర పెట్టుకున్నట్లు.
rolu poyi maddelato mora pettukunnatlu.
Like a mortar going to a drum to complain about its woes.
This proverb is used when someone seeks help from a person who is in an even worse situation or who suffers more than themselves. In a traditional setting, a mortar (rolu) is hit with a pestle occasionally, but a drum (maddela) is beaten on both sides constantly. It signifies the irony of complaining to someone who has greater troubles.
ఆడా, పాడా, మద్దెలగొట్టా, మంగలి బజారులో అడుక్కుతినా.
ada, pada, maddelagotta, mangali bajarulo adukkutina.
Did I dance? Did I sing? Did I play the drum? Or did I beg in the barber market?
This expression is used when someone is unjustly accused or criticized despite minding their own business. It implies that the speaker hasn't done anything wrong, shameful, or public that warrants such negative attention or harassment.
ముత్యాలు పగడాలు, ముట్టుకుంటే జగడాలు
mutyalu pagadalu, muttukunte jagadalu
Pearls and corals, but fights if touched.
This expression is used to describe a person who appears very beautiful, soft, or charming from a distance, but has a very volatile, irritable, or argumentative temperament when approached or interacted with. It highlights the contrast between someone's attractive exterior and their difficult personality.