తిండిలేనమ్మ తిరునాళ్ళకుపోతే ఎక్కాదిగా సరిపోయింది
tindilenamma tirunallakupote ekkadiga saripoyindi
If a woman with no food goes to a festival, it's just enough for her to climb (the stairs/hill).
This proverb describes a situation where someone who is already struggling takes on a new endeavor, only to find that the effort required for the endeavor consumes whatever little resources they had left. It is used when a person's attempt to improve their situation or enjoy something actually results in more exhaustion or loss because they were ill-prepared or lacked the basic means to begin with.
Related Phrases
నేను నీళ్ళకుపోతే బావి లోతుకు పోయింది
nenu nillakupote bavi lotuku poyindi
When I went for water, the well went deep.
This proverb is used to describe a stroke of extreme bad luck or a situation where a person's presence seems to make things go wrong. It implies that even a simple task becomes impossible or the resources disappear just when a specific person tries to access them, often used in a self-deprecating or sarcastic manner about one's own misfortune.
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).
వీసెడు చింతపండు పాసంగానికే సరిపోయింది.
visedu chintapandu pasanganike saripoyindi.
A viss of tamarind was just enough for the initial flavoring.
This expression is used to describe a situation where a large amount of resources is entirely consumed by a very small or preliminary part of a task, leaving nothing for the main objective. It highlights inadequacy or extreme wastefulness.
తిండిలేనమ్మ తిరుణాళ్లకు పోతే ఎక్కనూ దిగనూ సరిపోయిందట
tindilenamma tirunallaku pote ekkanu diganu saripoyindata
When a woman who had no food went to a fair, her time was spent just climbing up and down.
This proverb describes a situation where a person lacks basic resources but attempts a grand or busy task, only to find that the effort required for the logistics of the task consumes all their energy without yielding any benefit. It is used to mock people who participate in events they cannot afford or sustain, resulting in unnecessary struggle instead of enjoyment.
తిరునాళ్ళకు పోయి వచ్చిన మొహం మాదిరి
tirunallaku poyi vachchina moham madiri
Like a face that has returned from a religious fair (Tirunalla)
This expression is used to describe someone who looks extremely exhausted, weary, or unkempt. Religious fairs in India are traditionally crowded, dusty, and physically draining; therefore, a person returning from one would look tired and drained of energy.
తీరుతీరు గుడ్డలు కట్టుకొని, తిరునాళ్ళకు పోతే, ఊరికొక గుడ్డ ఊడిపోయిందట
tirutiru guddalu kattukoni, tirunallaku pote, urikoka gudda udipoyindata
When one went to the village fair wearing various kinds of clothes, one cloth fell off at every village along the way.
This proverb describes a situation where someone loses their assets, pride, or resources bit by bit due to mismanagement, misfortune, or a long journey. It is often used to mock someone who starts with a lot of pomp and show but ends up with nothing by the time they reach their destination.
అన్నవస్త్రాలకు పోతే ఉన్న వస్త్రం ఊడిపోయింది
annavastralaku pote unna vastram udipoyindi
When went for food and clothes, the existing cloth also fell off.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person, in an attempt to gain more or seek additional luxuries/necessities, ends up losing even the basic things they originally possessed. It is similar to the English expression 'to go for wool and come home shorn.' It highlights greed or ill-timed ambition leading to total loss.
కుక్క సంతకుపోయినట్లు
kukka santakupoyinatlu
Like a dog going to a village market
This expression is used to describe someone who goes to a place or joins an event where they have no purpose, relevance, or benefit. Just as a dog at a crowded market gets pushed around and gains nothing, it refers to aimless wandering or being out of place in a busy situation.
వేసిన వత్తికి, పోసిన చమురుకు సరిపోయింది.
vesina vattiki, posina chamuruku saripoyindi.
It matched the wick placed and the oil poured.
This expression is used to describe a situation where the effort or resources invested are exactly equal to the result obtained, leaving no profit or extra benefit. It refers to a 'break-even' scenario where one's hard work only just covers the basic costs, often used when someone feels their efforts were barely worth the outcome.
తిక్కలవాడు తిరునాళ్ళకు పోతే, ఎక్కాదిగా ఏడునాళ్ళు పట్టిందట.
tikkalavadu tirunallaku pote, ekkadiga edunallu pattindata.
When a foolish man went to a fair, it took him seven days just to climb up.
This proverb is used to describe an eccentric or foolish person who gets distracted or stuck on a simple, initial task, taking an excessive amount of time to accomplish something that should be quick. It mocks those who lack focus or common sense in practical situations.