తవ్వెడు ఆడ్డెడు తినేటప్పటికి నా దవడలు ఈడ్చుకుపోయినవి.
tavvedu addedu tinetappatiki na davadalu idchukupoyinavi.
By the time I finished eating a Tavva and an Adda, my jaws were strained.
This expression is used to describe an exhausting or difficult task that yields little joy or becomes a burden despite being a routine activity. It highlights physical or mental fatigue resulting from over-exertion or dealing with a tedious process. 'Tavva' and 'Adda' are traditional units of measurement for grain.
Related Phrases
తినేవరకూ తిండికుట్టు, తిన్న తర్వాత దండికుట్టు.
tinevaraku tindikuttu, tinna tarvata dandikuttu.
Until eating it is hunger's sting; after eating it is a stick's sting.
This expression highlights the fickle nature of desire or the physical toll of overindulgence. It describes a situation where one is desperate and eager for something (like food) until they get it, but immediately suffers the consequences or feels burdened/lethargic once the desire is satisfied.
అడ్డెడు తవ్వెడు బియ్యము ఇచ్చి, అమ్మా నీ ప్రసాదము అన్నట్టు
addedu tavvedu biyyamu ichchi, amma ni prasadamu annattu
Like giving [ a cook ] two and a half measures of rice and saying, " Madam, this is your gift." The cook gets four-fifths of the rice for herself, and yet she must be coaxed to cook the food. The allusion is to a traveller endeavouring to get some person to cook for him.
This proverb describes a situation where someone gives a very small or insignificant amount of their own resources to a deity or a person, but then acts as if the subsequent benefit or the entire resulting entity is a grand gift or blessing from that recipient. It is used to mock people who take credit for 'generosity' using things that were already minimal or belong to others, or those who try to claim a large spiritual or social reward for a tiny, trivial contribution.
అడ్డెడు తవ్వెడు బియ్యమిచ్చి, అమ్మా నీప్రసాదమన్నట్లు
addedu tavvedu biyyamichchi, amma niprasadamannatlu
Giving a measure of rice and then asking for it back as a divine offering.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone gives a very small or insignificant contribution but acts as if they are receiving a great favor or blessing in return. It refers to people who try to take credit for something they barely contributed to, or those who expect others to provide for them using the very resources they themselves provided.
మోక్షానికి పోతే మొసలి ఈడ్చుకుపోయిందట
mokshaniki pote mosali idchukupoyindata
When someone went for salvation, a crocodile dragged them away.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone sets out to achieve a noble or higher goal, but instead gets caught up in a sudden, unexpected, and mundane disaster or complication. It highlights the irony of encountering a great misfortune while seeking the ultimate spiritual liberation.
ఏరుకు తినేవాడి వెంబడి గీరుక తినేవాడు పడ్డాడట
eruku tinevadi vembadi giruka tinevadu paddadata
Behind the person who gathers and eats, followed the person who scrapes and eats.
This expression is used to describe a situation where a person who is already poor or struggling is burdened by someone even worse off. It highlights the irony of a needy person being followed by someone seeking help from them, despite having nothing to give.
ఒక పూట తినేవాడు యోగి, రెండు పూటలు తినేవాడు భోగి, మూడు పూటలా తినేవాడు రోగి
oka puta tinevadu yogi, rendu putalu tinevadu bhogi, mudu putala tinevadu rogi
One who eats once a day is a Yogi, one who eats twice a day is a Bhogi, one who eats thrice a day is a Rogi
This traditional Telugu proverb highlights the health benefits of moderation in eating. It suggests that eating once a day leads to spiritual and physical discipline (Yogi), eating twice a day is for those enjoying a worldly life (Bhogi), while eating three or more times a day leads to sickness or a diseased state (Rogi).
తనకు అని తవ్వెడు తవుడు ఉంటే, ఆకటి వేళకు ఆరగించవచ్చును
tanaku ani tavvedu tavudu unte, akati velaku araginchavachchunu
If you have even a Tavva ( 1 lb. ) of bran of your own, you can eat it when you are hungry.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and personal savings. It means that even a small amount of resources, if owned by oneself, will be useful and provide relief during difficult times or emergencies. It suggests that having a little of your own is better than depending on others' wealth.
Store is no sore.
గొర్రెను తినేవాడు పోతే, బర్రెను తినేవాడు వచ్చినట్టు.
gorrenu tinevadu pote, barrenu tinevadu vachchinattu.
When the man who ate sheep went, a man who ate buffa- los came. Parting with one rascal and getting a greater scoundrel in his place.
This expression is used to describe a situation where an existing problem or a bad person is replaced by something or someone even worse. It highlights that instead of finding relief, one has ended up with a more difficult or greedy person/situation.
మాంసం తినేవాడు పోతే, బొమికలు తినేవాడు వస్తాడు
mamsam tinevadu pote, bomikalu tinevadu vastadu
If the one who eats meat leaves, the one who eats bones will come.
This proverb is used to warn that if a bad person or a difficult situation is replaced, the successor might be even worse or more exploitative. It highlights the fear that the 'new' might be more desperate or damaging than the 'old'.
అడ్జెడు తినే నా సవతి ఎలా తింటుందో! గిద్దెడు తినే నా సవతి ఎలా తింటుందో!
adjedu tine na savati ela tintundo! giddedu tine na savati ela tintundo!
How my co-wife who eats an 'addu' manages! How my co-wife who eats a 'giddu' manages!
This proverb is used to describe a person who is unnecessarily worried about how others are managing their lives, especially when they themselves are in a much more difficult or precarious situation. It highlights a hypocritical or ironic concern for others' trivial matters while ignoring one's own major problems.