స్వర్ణం దగ్గరుంచుకొని బంగారం వెతికినట్టు.
svarnam daggarunchukoni bangaram vetikinattu.
Like searching for gold while already possessing it.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone overlooks a valuable resource or solution they already possess and goes searching for it elsewhere. It highlights human nature's tendency to ignore the obvious or the available while yearning for the same thing from external sources.
Related Phrases
చంకలో బిడ్డను ఉంచుకుని ఊరంతా వెతికినట్టు
chankalo biddanu unchukuni uranta vetikinattu
Like carrying the baby in one's arms and searching the whole village for it.
This proverb describes a situation where someone searches everywhere for something they already possess or which is right with them. It is used to mock absent-mindedness or the tendency to overlook the obvious while seeking solutions far away.
డబ్బున్నవాడిది బంగారు ఉంగరం, డబ్బు లేనివాడిది ఇత్తడి ఉంగరం
dabbunnavadidi bangaru ungaram, dabbu lenivadidi ittadi ungaram
The rich man's ring is gold; the poor man's ring is brass.
This proverb highlights societal bias and how people's perceptions change based on a person's financial status. It means that if a wealthy person does or says something, it is highly valued and respected (like gold), but if a poor person does the exact same thing, it is disregarded or seen as cheap (like brass).
ఆహారం దగ్గర, వ్యవహారం దగ్గర మొహమాటం పనికిరాదు
aharam daggara, vyavaharam daggara mohamatam panikiradu
One should not be shy or hesitant when it comes to food and business.
This proverb suggests that in certain situations, being overly modest or shy can lead to personal loss. Specifically, when eating (so you get enough to satisfy your hunger) and when conducting business or legal matters (so you ensure your interests are protected), you must be direct and outspoken.
బంగారం కొద్దీ సింగారం
bangaram koddi singaram
The decoration is proportional to the gold available.
This proverb means that the quality or extent of a result depends on the resources or effort invested. It is used to describe situations where you get exactly what you pay for, or where the outcome is limited by the budget or materials provided.
మన్ను పట్టితే బంగారం, బంగారం పట్టితే మన్ను
mannu pattite bangaram, bangaram pattite mannu
Touching mud turns it into gold, touching gold turns it into mud
This proverb describes the extremes of luck or fortune. It refers to a person's current 'luck streak'—when someone is highly successful, even their smallest efforts (mud) yield great results (gold). Conversely, when someone is going through a period of extreme misfortune, even their most valuable assets or best efforts fail miserably.
దూరం గుడి కడితే (చంద్రుని చుట్టూ) దగ్గర వాన, దగ్గర కడితే దూరపు వాన.
duram gudi kadite (chandruni chuttu) daggara vana, daggara kadite durapu vana.
If a halo forms far around the moon, rain is near; if it forms near, rain is far.
This is a traditional Telugu weather-lore proverb. It suggests that a large, wide halo around the moon indicates immediate rainfall, whereas a tight, small halo indicates that rain is still a long way off. It is used to predict weather based on atmospheric observations.
వెన్న దగ్గర ఉంచుకొని నేతికి తడుముకున్నట్లు
venna daggara unchukoni netiki tadumukunnatlu
Looking for ghi when you have got butter.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone searches for something they already possess or have easy access to. It highlights the foolishness of overlooking immediate resources while seeking their processed or final forms elsewhere.
Asking others to help you when you have all in your own power.
తాళం నీ దగ్గర, చెవి నా దగ్గర
talam ni daggara, chevi na daggara
The lock is with you, the key is with me.
In Telugu, 'Chevi' can mean both 'ear' and 'key'. This expression refers to a situation where two parties must cooperate because they each hold a vital part of a solution, or more colloquially, it describes a situation where authority or access is divided, preventing any one person from acting independently.
రాజుల దగ్గర ఉంటే రత్నాలు, పేదల దగ్గర ఉంటే పలుకురాళ్ళు
rajula daggara unte ratnalu, pedala daggara unte palukurallu
If they are with kings they are gems, if they are with the poor they are just pebbles.
This proverb highlights how society perceives the same object or quality differently based on a person's status or wealth. When a powerful or rich person possesses something, it is highly valued and praised, but when a poor person has the same thing, it is often dismissed as worthless or ordinary. It is used to describe social bias and the unfair weight given to status.
పుట్టని బిడ్డకు పేరు వెతకడం
puttani biddaku peru vetakadam
Searching for a name for a baby who is not yet born.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone makes plans or arrangements for something that hasn't happened yet or is far from certain. It refers to being overly optimistic or premature in one's actions before the foundation is even laid.