తాగబోతే మజ్జిగ లేదు అంటే, పెరుగుకు చీటి వ్రాయమన్నట్టు.
tagabote majjiga ledu ante, peruguku chiti vrayamannattu.
After being refused butter-milk, when he went himself, he ordered his servant to write for curds. After being refused a trifling request, to demand authoritatively some- thing much greater.
This proverb describes a person who makes unrealistic or extravagant demands when even the basic requirements cannot be met. It is used to mock someone's lack of common sense or their inability to understand the gravity of a scarcity, similar to the expression 'let them eat cake.'
Related Phrases
తాగబోతే మజ్జిగ చుక్కకు గతిలేదు, చీటివస్తే పెరుగు పంపుతారన్నట్లు.
tagabote majjiga chukkaku gatiledu, chitivaste perugu pamputarannatlu.
When one goes to drink, there isn't even a drop of buttermilk, but when a note arrives, they say they will send curd.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks the basic resources for themselves but makes grand, empty promises to others. It highlights the irony of someone who cannot even afford a basic necessity (buttermilk) pretending to be generous with something more valuable (curd) just to maintain appearances or deceive others.
మనిషి ఉన్ననాడు మజ్జిగ లేదు, ఒలిక మీద కట్టివేయను పాడి ఆవు.
manishi unnanadu majjiga ledu, olika mida kattiveyanu padi avu.
When the person was there, there was no buttermilk; when he is on the funeral pyre, a milch cow is tied (to be given away).
This proverb describes the irony of neglecting a person's needs while they are alive and making grand, useless gestures or charitable acts in their name after they are dead. It is used to criticize people who lack compassion in real-time but perform rituals for social status or post-mortem merit.
తురక దాసరికి ఈత మజ్జిగ
turaka dasariki ita majjiga
The butter-milk of a Mussulman mendicant is Toddy. Applied to pretended sanctity.
This proverb describes a situation where something inappropriate or mismatched is offered to someone based on their unique circumstances or lack of options. It refers to a person who follows a lifestyle that is a peculiar mix of different traditions, leading to them receiving things that don't quite fit the standard norms of either.
తాగబోతే మజ్జిగ లేదు కానీ, పెరుగుకు చీటి వ్రాయమన్నాడట
tagabote majjiga ledu kani, peruguku chiti vrayamannadata
When told there isn't even buttermilk to drink, he asked for a letter (note) for yogurt.
This proverb is used to mock people who demand luxuries or higher-level items when even basic necessities are unavailable. It describes a situation where someone is disconnected from reality or is being unnecessarily pretentious despite their poor circumstances.
కడివెడు పాలకు ఒక మజ్జిగబొట్టు
kadivedu palaku oka majjigabottu
A single drop of buttermilk for a pot full of milk
This proverb refers to how a small negative influence or a tiny mistake can transform or ruin something large and pure. Just as a drop of buttermilk curdles an entire pot of milk, one bad person can influence a group, or one small error can change the entire outcome of a situation.
మజ్జిగకు మజ్జిగ, ఆశకు ఆశ
majjigaku majjiga, ashaku asha
A fly to a fly. ( Hind. )
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone tries to benefit from both sides or keep something for themselves while pretending to share. It signifies a person's dual nature of being stingy while acting as if they are fulfilling a duty or being generous.
మరిచిపోయి మజ్జిగలో చేమిరి వేసినట్లు
marichipoyi majjigalo chemiri vesinatlu
Like forgetting and adding starter culture to buttermilk instead of milk.
This expression describes a redundant or useless action performed out of absent-mindedness. Just as 'chemiri' (starter/curd) is added to milk to turn it into curd, adding it to buttermilk (which is already a byproduct of curd) serves no purpose. It is used to mock someone who does something unnecessary or repeats a process that is already complete.
మంది ఎక్కువయితే మజ్జిగ పలచన
mandi ekkuvayite majjiga palachana
If there are more people, the buttermilk will be thinner. i. e. more water will be added.
This expression describes a situation where too many people being involved in a task leads to a decline in quality, or when resources are spread too thin to be effective. It is similar to the English proverb 'Too many cooks spoil the broth'.
మర్చిపోయి మజ్జిగలో చల్లపోశాను అన్నట్లు
marchipoyi majjigalo challaposhanu annatlu
Like saying 'I forgot and poured buttermilk into the buttermilk'.
This expression is used to describe a person who tries to cover up a mistake with a silly or redundant excuse. It highlights an act of doing something completely unnecessary or repetitive and then acting as if it were a genuine oversight, often used to mock someone's illogical reasoning.
నేను పోతే మజ్జిగ నీళ్ళకు దోవలేదుగాని, నాపేర చీటిపోతే పెరుగు పంపుతారు అన్నాడట.
nenu pote majjiga nillaku dovaledugani, napera chitipote perugu pamputaru annadata.
If I go in person, I won't even get buttermilk water, but if a letter goes in my name, they will send curd, he said.
This expression refers to people who live in a state of delusion or false pride, believing their name or reputation carries more weight than their physical presence. It is used to mock someone who thinks they are highly influential or respected despite being treated poorly or ignored in reality. It highlights the irony of someone expecting a grand reception based on a 'request letter' when they cannot even secure basic hospitality in person.