తనువులు నిత్యంకావు, మావారిని ఓలిపైకం ఖర్చుపెట్టవద్దని చెప్పమన్నట్లు
tanuvulu nityankavu, mavarini olipaikam kharchupettavaddani cheppamannatlu
Bodies are not eternal; tell my husband not to spend money on the bride-price.
This expression is used to describe a person who uses high philosophy or grand ideals as a pretext for their stinginess or to avoid spending money. It mocks someone who pretends to be detached from worldly desires only when it benefits their wallet.
Related Phrases
నిత్యం లేని మొగుడు నిత్యం బాస చేశాడట
nityam leni mogudu nityam basa cheshadata
The husband who is never around made a promise to return every day.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is habitually unreliable or inconsistent, yet makes grand promises that they have no intention or capacity to keep. It highlights the irony of someone who fails at basic commitments offering even larger, unrealistic assurances.
పాసిపండ్లమ్మ సంపాదిస్తే బంగారు పండ్లమ్మ ఖర్చుపెట్టినట్లు
pasipandlamma sampadiste bangaru pandlamma kharchupettinatlu
Like the woman with dirty teeth earning while the woman with golden teeth spends it all.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where one person works extremely hard in difficult or 'dirty' conditions to earn money, while another person, who lives a life of luxury or puts on appearances, simply spends or wastes that hard-earned wealth. It highlights the disparity between the laborer and the consumer.
చస్తుంటే సంధ్యమంత్రం చెప్పమన్నట్లు
chastunte sandhyamantram cheppamannatlu
Like asking someone to recite evening prayers while they are dying.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone gives impractical, ill-timed, or pedantic advice during a critical crisis. It refers to a person focusing on trivial rituals or formalities when immediate life-saving action or empathy is required.
మూడు మనువులు వెళ్ళినా, పొయ్యి ఊదమన్నారు
mudu manuvulu vellina, poyyi udamannaru
Even after going through three marriages, they told her to blow the stove.
This expression highlights that no matter how much experience or seniority one gains, they cannot escape basic chores or fundamental responsibilities. It is often used to describe situations where a person's status or age doesn't exempt them from hard work or routine tasks.
అమావాస్య కూడు నిత్యం దొరుకునా?
amavasya kudu nityam dorukuna?
Can you get new-moon food every day ? The Hindu Law prescribes one meal only on the day of the new-moon, and it is in consequence a good one.
This expression is used to signify that windfalls, special treats, or exceptional circumstances do not happen every day. It reminds one that lucky breaks are rare and one must rely on regular effort rather than expecting extraordinary benefits to be constant.
మనువు నిత్యం కాదు, ఏకుల బుట్ట అమ్మబోకు
manuvu nityam kadu, ekula butta ammaboku
Marriage is not eternal, do not sell the basket of cotton slivers.
This proverb advises one to maintain self-reliance and not to give up one's source of livelihood or basic skills just because of a temporary situation or new support (like marriage). It emphasizes that circumstances change, and one should always keep their 'tools of the trade' or means of independence intact.
అయ్యవారిని చేయబోతే కోతి అయినట్లు
ayyavarini cheyabote koti ayinatlu
Trying to make an idol of a teacher (or god), but it turned into a monkey.
This expression is used when a well-intentioned task or project goes completely wrong due to incompetence or unexpected errors, resulting in something unintended and often ridiculous. It describes a situation where an attempt to create something noble or superior ends up as a mess.
వెట్టికి చెపితే వేగుదాకా చెప్పమన్నట్లు
vettiki chepite vegudaka cheppamannatlu
Like asking someone to keep talking until dawn when asked for a small favor.
This proverb describes a situation where someone is asked to do a simple or unpaid task (Vetti), but they try to drag it out or demand excessive details, making the task unnecessarily long or burdensome. It is used when a person complicates a simple request or when a helper becomes a nuisance by over-extending their involvement.
చావు కబురు చల్లగా చెప్పమన్నారు
chavu kaburu challaga cheppamannaru
They asked to deliver the news of death coolly.
This expression is used when someone breaks bad or serious news in an overly casual, indirect, or inappropriately calm manner. It can also describe a situation where someone takes an unnecessarily long time to get to the point when conveying a disaster.
ఉన్నవాడు ఖర్చుపెట్టకుంటే అంటారు, లేనివాడు ఖర్చుపెడితే అంటారు.
unnavadu kharchupettakunte antaru, lenivadu kharchupedite antaru.
If the rich man doesn't spend, people talk; if the poor man spends, people talk.
This expression highlights how society is quick to criticize everyone regardless of their financial status. If a wealthy person is frugal, they are called a miser. If a poor person spends money, they are mocked for living beyond their means. It is used to suggest that one cannot satisfy everyone's opinions and should act according to their own conscience.