శింగన్నా శింగన్నా అద్దంకి పోయి వచ్చినావా అంటే, పోనూ పోయినాను రానూ వచ్చినానన్నాడట

shinganna shinganna addanki poyi vachchinava ante, ponu poyinanu ranu vachchinanannadata

Translation

"Śinganna, Śinganna, have you been to Addanki?" they asked. "I have been and come back" he replied. Śinganna was a simpleton who having heard that he was to be sent on an errand to Addanki, went off in the night without having received his message.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe someone who gives a redundant, obvious, or meaningless answer to a simple question. It satirizes people who state the obvious as if they are providing significant information, or those who perform a task without achieving any real purpose or results.

Related Phrases

If one says "O life! I died by mistake, come back," will the life return?

This proverb is used to convey that certain actions are irreversible. Just as life cannot return once it has left the body—regardless of whether the death was accidental or intentional—certain mistakes cannot be undone, and lost opportunities or broken trust cannot be restored simply by wishing for them.

When she asked, 'O husband with no charm, why did you come during the day?', he replied, 'Not for that, I just came for some fire.'

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone tries to hide their true intentions or feelings with a silly or weak excuse after being snubbed or rejected. It highlights awkward attempts to save face when one's presence or actions are questioned.

A face that looks like it just returned from a weekly market

This expression is used to describe someone who looks extremely exhausted, weary, or dull after a long, tiring activity or a chaotic event. Just as a person returning from a crowded, dusty, and loud village market (santa) looks drained of energy, this phrase highlights a person's physical or mental fatigue.

Akkanna went to Addanki and came back.

This expression is used to describe a person who completes a long or significant journey or task without achieving any results or gaining any new information. It signifies a futile effort or a trip that was a waste of time, where someone returns exactly as they left.

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.

Have you come to eat or to visit the shrine ?

This expression is used to question a person's priorities or motives when they seem more interested in superficial benefits (like food) rather than the primary purpose or spiritual significance of an event (like receiving holy water at a temple). It is often used to chide someone who is distracted by secondary perks.

" I trusted you O Râmanna!" said one "Then I'll drown you in the middle of the river O Lakshmanna!" replied his friend. Misplaced confidence. Trust makes way for treachery. Trust, beware whom ! (German.)* Trust was a good man, Trust-not was a better. (Italian.)

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone's trust is met with extreme betrayal. It highlights the irony and cruelty of being harmed by the very person or source one relied upon for help or protection. It is often applied to scams, treacherous friends, or systems that fail the people they are supposed to serve.

When marriage comes, or vomiting, it cannot be stopped.

This proverb is used to indicate that certain events in life are inevitable and beyond human control once they are set in motion. Just as a physical urge like vomiting cannot be suppressed, significant life events like marriage will happen when the time is right, regardless of attempts to delay or stop them.

Any quantity of presents must suffice at a dead man's marriage. When a marriage takes place, presents of cloths are sent to the bride and bridegroom by their relations. Return gifts of about equal value are made shortly after the marriage. Should the bridegroom, however, die during the ceremonies, no presents are returned, and no complaints are therefore made regarding the value of those received.

This expression is used to describe a situation where one should be content with whatever little benefit or payment they receive in a hopeless or lost situation. Since a dead man cannot marry, any dowry received is an unexpected bonus from a failed endeavor.

When asked 'Singanna! Did you go to Addanki?', he replied, 'I went and I have already returned'.

This proverb describes a situation where someone performs a task in a very mechanical, superficial, or hurried manner without achieving the actual purpose or gaining any benefit from it. It is used to mock people who do things for the sake of finishing them rather than doing them meaningfully.