తాకి మొగ్గిన తనువంత ఒకటి, దీపమును నులిపిన దినుసంత ఒకటి
taki moggina tanuvanta okati, dipamunu nulipina dinusanta okati
One is the size of the body that bends when touched, and another is the size of the wick when the lamp is snuffed.
This expression describes a situation where something seems small or manageable at first (like a touch-sensitive plant or a small flame), but the effort or consequences involved in dealing with it are entirely different. It is often used to compare two things that might look similar in scale but differ greatly in their nature or the impact they have.
Related Phrases
కొత్త ఒక వింత; పాత ఒక రోత
kotta oka vinta; pata oka rota
The new is a wonder, the old detestable.
Generally, people are attracted by the new (especially, fashions in dress and the like) and tend to dislike the old. It is similar to the saying in English: “familiarity breeds contempt.”
ఊరంతా ఒకటైతే, ఉలిపికట్టెదొక దారి
uranta okataite, ulipikattedoka dari
If the whole village is one way, the stick is another way.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is eccentric or stubborn, always choosing to go against the consensus or common path. It highlights non-conformity, often in a negative or frustrating sense, where one person acts contrary to everyone else in a group.
గూద దిగిన పేరంటాలు అత్తగారింట ఉన్నా ఒకటే, అమ్మగారింట ఉన్నా ఒకటే!
guda digina perantalu attagarinta unna okate, ammagarinta unna okate!
A guest who has lost her dignity stays the same whether she is at her mother-in-law's house or her mother's house!
This proverb describes a situation where a person has lost their respect or status to such an extent that their location or surroundings no longer matter. It is used to point out that once a person's reputation is ruined or they have become shameless, they will be treated with the same indifference or contempt everywhere.
పాత ఒక రోత, కొత్త ఒక వింత
pata oka rota, kotta oka vinta
The old is a nuisance, the new is a wonder.
This proverb describes the human tendency to quickly get bored with old, familiar things and become easily fascinated by anything new. It is often used to comment on people who abandon traditions or long-term possessions in favor of the latest trends, or when someone loses interest in something they once valued.
దీపం ఆరిన తర్వాత దినుసంతా ఒకటే
dipam arina tarvata dinusanta okate
After the lamp goes out, all materials are the same.
This proverb suggests that in the dark, or after death, all distinctions of class, beauty, and status disappear. It is used to express that everyone is equal in the end or when appearances are no longer visible.
ఊబ నా మగడు ఉండీ ఒకటే లేకా ఒకటి
uba na magadu undi okate leka okati
My husband is a dummy; it's the same whether he is there or not.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is completely useless or ineffective. It implies that their presence provides no benefit, and their absence makes no difference, much like a decorative figure or a person with no initiative.
గుడ్డి కన్ను మూసినా ఒకటే, తెరచినా ఒకటే
guddi kannu musina okate, terachina okate
Whether a blind eye is closed or open, it is all the same.
This expression is used to describe a person or a thing that is completely useless or ineffective. It suggests that the presence or absence of certain actions/tools doesn't matter when the core functionality is missing. It is often used to refer to someone who is indifferent to what is happening around them or an effort that yields no result regardless of the approach.
వేసంగి పంట ఒకనాటి పంట.
vesangi panta okanati panta.
A summer crop is a one-day crop.
This proverb highlights the volatility and risk associated with summer farming. Due to extreme heat or water scarcity, a standing crop that looks healthy can perish or be harvested in a single day, implying that its success is highly uncertain compared to other seasons.
ఎట్టకేలకు పంటే ఒకనాటి వంటే.
ettakelaku pante okanati vante.
Finally, the harvest is but a single day's meal.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a lot of hard work or a long waiting period results in a very small or temporary benefit. It emphasizes that despite extensive efforts, the outcome may be fleeting or insufficient.
ఇంటింటా ఒక ఇటుక పొయ్యి, మా ఇంట ఒక మట్టి పొయ్యి
intinta oka ituka poyyi, ma inta oka matti poyyi
Every house has a brick stove, while our house has a clay stove.
This proverb is used to highlight that despite outward appearances or slight differences, basic problems and human nature are universal. It implies that everyone faces similar struggles and that no one is truly unique in their suffering or circumstances.