తల్లి చెవుల మద్దికాయలు దండగలకు, భార్య మెళ్లో పూసలు బోగాలవారికి.
talli chevula maddikayalu dandagalaku, bharya mello pusalu bogalavariki.
His mother's ear-ornaments went to pay fines, and his wife's necklace of beads to pay harlots.
This proverb describes a person who is irresponsible, reckless, or addicted to vices. It depicts a scenario where a person squanders his family's assets—specifically the mother's jewelry to pay off legal fines or debts resulting from his bad behavior, and his wife's jewelry to spend on external pleasures or luxuries. It is used to criticize someone who ruins their household's stability through negligence and bad habits.
Related Phrases
భర్త బడాయి భార్య మీదనే
bharta badayi bharya midane
A husband's boasting is only over his wife
This expression is used to describe someone who acts arrogant or powerful only towards those who are dependent on them or cannot retaliate, while being timid or insignificant in front of others. It highlights selective bravery or false pride shown within the safety of one's home.
మన మెరుగుని చెవులకు మద్దికాయలా?
mana meruguni chevulaku maddikayala?
Like wooden earrings for ears that are not even seen?
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone performs an act of vanity or decoration that is completely useless or goes unnoticed. It highlights the futility of showing off or investing effort in something that doesn't serve a purpose or isn't visible to others.
ఉల్లి చేసిన మేలు తల్లి కూడా చేయదు
ulli chesina melu talli kuda cheyadu
Even a mother cannot do as much good as an onion does.
This is a popular Telugu proverb emphasizing the immense medicinal and health benefits of onions. It suggests that while a mother is the ultimate caretaker, the therapeutic properties of onions are so unique and powerful for the body that they are incomparable. It is used to encourage the consumption of onions for well-being.
దండగలో పండగ
dandagalo pandaga
A festival amidst a waste or loss
This expression is used to describe a situation where an unexpected positive event or celebration occurs during a time of significant loss, waste, or overall failure. It highlights an ironic or small consolation in a losing situation.
తల్లి చెవులు తెంచిన వాడికి ముత్తవతల్లి చెవులు వెంట్రుక మాత్రము
talli chevulu tenchina vadiki muttavatalli chevulu ventruka matramu
The man who tears [the ornaments out of] his mother's ears, will not care a rush for the ears of his great-grand- mother.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is so hardened or wicked that they have already committed a grave sin or major crime, making a smaller offense seem insignificant to them. It implies that once someone has crossed a major moral boundary (like harming their own mother), they will not hesitate to commit further, even smaller, wrongs against others.
మనమెరగని చెవులకు మద్ది కాయలా?
manameragani chevulaku maddi kayala?
[ Are we to put ] ear ornaments on ears that we have never heard of? Said of persons whose pretensions to learning are not acknowledged.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is overly concerned or making unnecessary efforts for people they don't know or things that don't belong to them. It highlights the irony of trying to beautify or help something unfamiliar while neglecting what is close at hand.
తల్లి చెవులు తెంపినవానికి పినతల్లి చెవులు బీరపువ్వులు.
talli chevulu tempinavaniki pinatalli chevulu birapuvvulu.
To a person who has torn off his own mother's ears, his aunt's ears are like ridge gourd flowers.
This proverb describes a person who is so cruel or heartless that they have harmed their own closest kin. For such a person, harming others (like an aunt or distant relative) is a trivial matter. It is used to warn others about a person's character; if someone doesn't spare their own family, they certainly won't spare you.
చాకలివాని భార్యకు మంగలివాడు విడాకులు ఇచ్చినట్లు
chakalivani bharyaku mangalivadu vidakulu ichchinatlu
Like the barber's giving a written divorcement to the washerwoman's wife.
This expression is used to describe an absurd or illogical situation where a person interferes in a matter that they have absolutely no authority or legal standing over. It refers to someone trying to settle or decide an issue that does not involve them at all.
మద్దికాయలు మాటిడ్డ మాదిరి
maddikayalu matidda madiri
Like a person waiting for the fruits of a Terminalia arjuna tree.
This expression is used to describe someone who is waiting in vain or wasting time for something that will never happen. Legend has it that a fox waited under a Maddi tree for its fruit to fall, not knowing that the fruit stays on the tree even after drying, leading to a long and fruitless wait.
గుడ్డి కన్నా మెల్ల మేలు.
guddi kanna mella melu.
A squint eye is better than a blind eye.
This proverb is used to convey that having something imperfect or partial is better than having nothing at all. It is similar to the English expression 'Half a loaf is better than no bread' or 'Something is better than nothing.'
Of two evils choose the least.