తోకవడ్లు వంటకు, వెన్నుపోటు నేస్తానికి.
tokavadlu vantaku, vennupotu nestaniki.
Tailed paddy for cooking, and a backstab for friendship.
This expression is used to describe things or people that are fundamentally unsuitable or harmful. Just as 'Toka Vadlu' (a poor quality grain with tails) is difficult to cook and yields poor results, a person who betrays trust is ruinous to a friendship. It serves as a warning against relying on low-quality resources or untrustworthy companions.
Related Phrases
రాత్రికి వెన్నెల పస, పైరుకు వెన్నులు పస
ratriki vennela pasa, pairuku vennulu pasa
Moonlight is the beauty of the night, while ears of grain are the beauty of the crop.
This proverb highlights what constitutes the true value or essence of something. Just as moonlight defines the beauty of a night, the health and abundance of the grain-heads (ears) determine the success and worth of a crop. It is used to emphasize that the final result or the core feature is what gives a thing its true significance.
రాత్రికి వెన్నెల, పైరుకు వెన్నులు పస.
ratriki vennela, pairuku vennulu pasa.
Moonlight is the beauty of the night, as ears of grain are the beauty of the crop.
This proverb highlights what constitutes the essence or peak beauty of something. Just as moonlight makes a night pleasant and beautiful, the appearance of healthy ears of grain (spikelets) signifies the success and value of a crop. It is used to describe things that are essential for fulfillment or completeness.
పంటకు పెంటు, వంటకు మరటు
pantaku pentu, vantaku maratu
Manure for the crop, stirring for the cooking.
This proverb highlights the essential requirements for success in specific tasks. Just as manure (pantu) is necessary for a healthy crop yield, constant stirring or tending (maratu) is necessary for a dish to be cooked properly. It is used to emphasize that every job has its own unique, indispensable process that must be followed to achieve the desired result.
బతికే సేద్యం - తురక నేస్తం
batike sedyam - turaka nestam
Farming for survival - Friendship with a Turk
This proverb is used to describe things that are highly unreliable or unpredictable. Historically, subsistence farming depended entirely on the whims of rain, and friendship with soldiers (Turks) was seen as risky due to their unpredictable nature or shifting loyalties. It implies that certain ventures provide no security or stability.
తూమెడు వడ్లు తూర్పారపెట్టేటప్పటికి ఏదుము వడ్లు ఎలుకలు తిని పోయినవి.
tumedu vadlu turparapettetappatiki edumu vadlu elukalu tini poyinavi.
While he was winnowing one Tûm of rice, the rats devoured five Tûms.
This proverb describes a situation where the effort put into a small task results in a disproportionately large loss elsewhere due to negligence. It is used to mock people who focus on trivial matters while ignoring significant damage occurring right under their noses, or when the cost of an operation exceeds the benefit gained.
Tûm is the Indian bushel.
పెరుగు వడ్లు కలిపినట్లు
perugu vadlu kalipinatlu
Like mixing curd and paddy (unhusked rice)
This expression describes an incompatible or mismatched combination. Just as mixing curd with unhusked rice makes it impossible to eat or separate effectively, it is used to characterize situations where two things that don't belong together are joined, or when a task is done in a messy, disorganized, and unusable manner.
పెరుగూ వడ్లూ కలిపినట్టు.
perugu vadlu kalipinattu.
Like mixing rice in the husk with curds.
This expression is used to describe an incompatible or mismatched combination. Just as smooth yogurt and hard, prickly unhusked rice do not blend well or make for a pleasant meal, it refers to situations where two people, things, or ideas are brought together but do not fit or work in harmony.
తూమెడు వడ్లు తూర్పారపెట్టేటప్పటికి ఏదుము వడ్లు ఎలుకలు తినిపోయినవి.
tumedu vadlu turparapettetappatiki edumu vadlu elukalu tinipoyinavi.
By the time one 'thumu' of grain was winnowed, rats ate up five 'thumus' of grain.
This proverb describes a situation where the effort spent on a small task results in a much larger loss due to negligence or lack of focus on the bigger picture. It is used when someone's trivial gains are outweighed by significant, preventable losses occurring simultaneously.
కొని తింటూ ఉంటే కోమటినేస్తం, ఇచ్చి తీసుకుంటా ఉంటే ఈడిగ నేస్తం
koni tintu unte komatinestam, ichchi tisukunta unte idiga nestam
If you buy and eat, it is merchant friendship; if you give and take, it is toddy-tapper friendship.
This proverb describes the nature of friendships based on financial status and reciprocity. A merchant (Komati) is friendly as long as you are a customer spending money, whereas an Eediga (historically associated with communal social circles) represents a friendship based on mutual exchange or sharing. It is used to highlight how the dynamics of friendship change based on economic transactions versus mutual benefit.
పగలెల్లా బారెడు నేశినాను, దివ్వెతేవే దిగ నేస్తాను
pagalella baredu neshinanu, divveteve diga nestanu
Like a weaver saying in the evening to his wife "woman during the day I have woven two yards, if you bring a lamp now I'll undo it all again." Said of an idle fellow.
This proverb is used to mock lazy or inefficient people who achieve very little despite having plenty of time, and then pretend to be extremely busy or productive once the time has passed or conditions become difficult. It highlights the irony of someone claiming they will do great work in the dark (or under pressure) when they couldn't finish simple work in broad daylight.