తాటికాయ తింటావా, తలకొట్లు పడతావా?
tatikaya tintava, talakotlu padatava?
Will you eat the palm fruit, or will you endure blows to the head?
This expression refers to a situation where one has to face extreme hardship or endure significant struggle to achieve a small or simple pleasure. It is used when the cost or effort required for a result is disproportionately high or painful.
Related Phrases
తిరునాళ్లకు పోతావా, తిండికి పోతావా?
tirunallaku potava, tindiki potava?
Are you going for the festival ( lit. holy days ) or for the feast ?
This expression is used to question someone's true motives or priorities. It highlights a situation where a person claims to be attending an event for its primary purpose (like a religious festival) but is actually more interested in secondary benefits or personal gains (like the free food).
కత్తేస్తావా, బద్దేస్తావా అన్నట్లు
kattestava, baddestava annatlu
Like asking, 'Will you take the scissors or the stick?'
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is forced to choose between two equally difficult or unpleasant options, or when someone is being interrogated/threatened with no easy way out. It implies a 'stuck between a rock and a hard place' scenario where both outcomes are undesirable.
నేలమీద వ్రాసిన బూరెను ఇంత తింటావా, అంత తింటావా అన్నట్లు
nelamida vrasina burenu inta tintava, anta tintava annatlu
Like asking if one would eat this much or that much of a sweet (Boore) drawn on the floor.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone offers something that is purely imaginary, non-existent, or impossible to provide. It mocks people who make grand promises or offers that have no basis in reality, similar to offering to share a drawing of food instead of actual food.
తాటికాయవన్నె తప్పడిది
tatikayavanne tappadidi
The color of the palm fruit is deceptive.
This expression refers to something that looks attractive or promising on the outside but turns out to be useless, empty, or disappointing on the inside. It is used to describe deceptive appearances where the external beauty does not reflect the internal quality.
చక్కిలాలు తింటావా, చల్ది తింటావా అంటే, చక్కిలాలూ తింటాను, చల్దీ తింటాను, అయ్యతోటి వేడీ తింటాను అన్నాడట.
chakkilalu tintava, chaldi tintava ante, chakkilalu tintanu, chaldi tintanu, ayyatoti vedi tintanu annadata.
When [the guest] was asked whether he would take biscuits, or cold breakfast, he replied that he would take both, and hot breakfast too with the good man of the house. Applied to an ill mannered glutton. The first cut, and all the loaf besides.
This proverb describes a person who is extremely greedy or opportunistic. It is used to mock someone who refuses to choose between options and instead demands everything available, plus extra. It highlights a lack of hesitation in asking for more than what is offered.
వామ్ము తింటావా మామా అంటే, వాము పోసకు సందుంటే ఒక వడ్రికైనా తిననా అన్నాడట
vammu tintava mama ante, vamu posaku sandunte oka vadrikaina tinana annadata
When asked 'Uncle, will you eat some owa (ajwain)?', he replied 'If there is space for a single grain of owa, wouldn't I eat a whole vada instead?'
This proverb is used to describe a person who is extremely greedy or has a very large appetite. It highlights a situation where someone is so full or overwhelmed but still looks for a way to consume more of something substantial (like a vada) rather than something small (like owa/ajwain), showing their insatiable nature.
తాతను చూపుతావా, తద్దినం పెడతావా?
tatanu chuputava, taddinam pedatava?
Will you show me my grandfather or will you perform his funeral rites?
This expression is used to question someone's contradictory or unclear intentions. It highlights a situation where someone claims to offer a benefit (showing the grandfather) but their actions suggest a negative outcome (performing death rites). It is often used when someone's 'help' feels more like a threat or an unnecessary complication.
మూలిగే నక్కమీద తాటికాయ పడ్డట్లు
mulige nakkamida tatikaya paddatlu
Like a palm fruit falling on a moaning fox
This expression is used to describe a situation where a person who is already in trouble or suffering is hit with another misfortune. It is equivalent to the English idiom 'To add insult to injury' or 'When it rains, it pours.'
మూలిగే నక్క మీద తాటికాయ పడ్డట్టు
mulige nakka mida tatikaya paddattu
Like a palmyra fruit falling on a groaning jackal. A misfortune caused by a strange coincidence.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is already suffering or in trouble is hit with another misfortune. It is equivalent to the English expression 'adding insult to injury' or 'misfortunes never come singly'.
ఊరపిచ్చుక మీద తాటికాయ పడినట్లు.
urapichchuka mida tatikaya padinatlu.
Like a palm fruit falling on a house sparrow.
This expression is used to describe a situation where a massive or overwhelming burden, punishment, or disaster befalls someone who is very small, weak, or insignificant. It highlights a complete mismatch in scale, suggesting that the impact is far greater than what the victim can handle or endure.