తొత్తుకొక బొల్లిమేక

tottukoka bollimeka

Translation

A spotted goat for every maidservant.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a situation of excessive extravagance or unnecessary distribution of resources. It refers to someone who is so foolishly generous or wealthy that they give away valuable items (like spotted goats) even to those who do not require or deserve them, often leading to their own ruin.

Related Phrases

Like hitting the burrow after the fox has gone.

This expression refers to taking action or seeking a remedy after it is already too late. It is used to describe futile efforts made after the opportunity has passed or the damage is already done, similar to the English idiom 'closing the stable door after the horse has bolted'.

When the pot that was stolen and eaten from came face to face, the pot under the armpit saluted it.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person who has committed a large-scale or blatant theft or mistake meets someone who has done a smaller, hidden one. It implies that when a big thief encounters a bigger one, the smaller thief pays respect out of fear or recognition of shared guilt. It satirizes the hierarchy and mutual recognition among dishonest people.

When about to go off herself, [ she ordered ] the white ox [ to be fed with ] rice washings. Applied to the absurdity of a person troubling himself with affairs in which he has no longer any interest.

This expression is used to describe a person who, while leaving a place or giving up a position, performs a superficial or unnecessary act of kindness or duty to maintain a good image, even though they no longer care about the outcome.

A maid-servant for a maid-servant.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who is already in a subordinate or lowly position tries to employ someone else to do their work. It highlights unnecessary hierarchy or laziness among those who are already expected to serve.

If the mother has leukoderma, won't the child have at least a spot?

This proverb is used to describe how children often inherit the traits, habits, or characteristics of their parents (similar to 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree'). It suggests that a person's behavior or nature is naturally influenced by their lineage or upbringing.

After the jackal had departed, the hole lamented and wept. Great sorrow in a household.

This proverb describes a situation where someone takes action or seeks a solution after the opportunity has passed or the damage is already done. It is used to mock futile, late efforts that serve no purpose, similar to the English expression 'locking the stable door after the horse has bolted'.

A slave serving under another slave

This expression describes a situation where a person is forced to serve or obey someone who is themselves subordinate or lacks any real authority. It is used to mock a double-layered hierarchy of servitude or a situation that is particularly humiliating because the person in charge has no real power of their own.

The calf is as white as its mother.

This proverb is used to describe how children inherit the traits, character, or habits of their parents. It is the Telugu equivalent of 'Like mother, like son' or 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.' It implies that a child's behavior can be predicted or explained by looking at their upbringing or lineage.

A bowl under a bowl, a leaf-cup under a leaf-cup.

This expression is used to describe something that is redundant, repetitive, or lacks any real substance despite appearing layered. It often refers to a situation where there is no clear end or result, or where one thing is simply replaced by an identical, equally unproductive thing.

A servant under a servant

This expression describes a situation where someone is subordinate to an individual who is themselves in a lowly or subservient position. It highlights an extreme lack of authority or a hierarchy of servitude, often used to mock someone who is at the absolute bottom of a social or organizational ladder.