తల తడిపిన మట్టుకు గొరిగే తీరవలెను.

tala tadipina mattuku gorige tiravalenu.

Translation

When the head has been wet, the shaving must be completed. When a man has commenced a business he must finish it himself.

Meaning

This proverb is used to indicate that once a task has been initiated or a commitment has been made, it must be carried out to completion regardless of the difficulties or change of heart. It is often applied to situations where one has reached a point of no return and must fulfill their obligation.

Related Phrases

After conception there's nothing for it but to bring forth.

This proverb is used to convey that once a responsibility is taken or a process has started, one must see it through to the end regardless of the difficulties. It emphasizes that certain consequences or duties are inevitable once a particular path is chosen.

A work undertaken must be completed.

Once the head is wet, it must be shaved.

This proverb means that once you have initiated a task or committed to a process, you must see it through to completion regardless of the difficulties. It is often used to emphasize accountability and finishing what one has started.

As the hill-barber shaves.

This expression refers to a job done very poorly, unevenly, or incompletely. It describes a situation where a task is performed haphazardly, leaving patches of unfinished work, much like an unskilled barber leaving patches of hair on a head.

The pilgrims who visit the sacred hill of Tirupati have to be shaved before entering the temple. The barbers in their greediness to secure customers are said to keep numbers round them half shaven, leaving off one to commence another. Dabbling in many things, but completing none.

The barber without work shaved the cat's head.

This proverb describes a situation where an idle person engages in useless, absurd, or counterproductive activities just to keep themselves busy. It is used to mock someone who performs unnecessary tasks out of boredom or lack of real work.

A man pretending to be fully employed.

One must work like a slut and eat like a gentleman.

This proverb emphasizes the dignity of labor and the reward of hard work. It suggests that one should work with extreme humility and diligence (like a servant) in order to eventually enjoy a life of luxury and comfort (like a master/lord). It is used to encourage someone to put in hard effort now for a better future.

Although it goes round the head yet the mouthful must come to the mouth.

This expression describes a situation where something is done in a needlessly complicated, roundabout, or indirect way when a much simpler method exists. It is used to critique inefficiency or over-complication of straightforward tasks.

Like an idle barber shaving a cat's head.

This proverb describes someone who, out of boredom or lack of productive work, engages in useless, absurd, or counterproductive activities. It is used to mock people who waste their time on tasks that serve no purpose or might even cause unnecessary trouble.

A dog that barks does not bite.

It is said that a shouting man does not harm really. It is not necessary to take the loud threats of one seriously, because one may not really be able to carry out one’s threats.

You should speak as silk is cut. i. e. give a decided answer, as unmistakable as the cut of silk is clean.

This expression means that one's speech should be precise, brief, and very clear, similar to the clean and smooth cut of a sharp pair of scissors through silk fabric. It is used to advise someone to be straightforward and articulate without unnecessary ambiguity.

I want grand-mother and I want food. Said by a child who did not wish to leave its grand-mother, but who had to do so to get its dinner. You cannot drink and whistle at the same time. (Danish.)

This proverb describes a situation where someone wants to have their cake and eat it too. It is used when a person tries to hold onto two mutually exclusive options or wants all the benefits of a situation without making any sacrifices or choices.

* Man kan ikke drikke og pibe paa eengang.