తూమెడు వడ్లు తూర్పారపెట్టేటప్పటికి ఏదుము వడ్లు ఎలుకలు తిని పోయినవి.

tumedu vadlu turparapettetappatiki edumu vadlu elukalu tini poyinavi.

Translation

While he was winnowing one Tûm of rice, the rats devoured five Tûms.

Meaning

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.

Notes

Tûm is the Indian bushel.

Related Phrases

While going for the sake of two measures of paddy, a calf ate away four measures of paddy

This proverb describes a situation where a person, in an attempt to gain a small profit or save a small amount, ends up suffering a much larger loss. It is used to caution against being penny-wise and pound-foolish, or when greed for a small gain leads to significant negligence of existing assets.

When someone went to work as a laborer for a small measure (kunchedu) of grains, calves ate up a larger measure (thumedu) of grains at home.

This proverb describes a situation where a person suffers a large loss while chasing a very small gain. It is used to mock poor planning or misplaced priorities where the effort to earn something tiny results in neglecting and losing something much more valuable.

By the time a 'toomu' of paddy was winnowed, rats had eaten five 'toomus' of paddy.

This proverb describes a situation where the effort put into a small gain results in a much larger loss elsewhere due to negligence. It is used when someone focuses on trivial tasks or minor savings while ignoring significant damages or massive waste occurring simultaneously.

While greedily chasing after an addu (a small measure) of paddy, a calf ate away a thumu (a much larger measure) of paddy.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person, driven by greed for a small gain, ends up suffering a much larger loss due to negligence. It highlights the foolishness of losing sight of one's existing assets while pursuing minor, insignificant benefits.

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.

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.

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.

Paddy is five units, but the sparrows are ten units.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where the expenditure or waste exceeds the actual income or resource. It highlights scenarios where the cost of protecting or maintaining something is higher than the value of the object itself.

What! Offering the house-rice to a spoilt field ?

This proverb describes a situation where one wastes valuable resources on a hopeless or unproductive cause. Just as sowing good seeds in a barren or bad field results in a loss of both the seeds and the effort, this expression is used when someone invests time, money, or energy into something that yields no results.

Pongali is a preparation of rice offered to the fields after the harvest. In this case the crop had failed and the offering had to be made from the old store. It was therefore a needless ceremony.

Like one who does not know the alphabet attempting multiplication.

This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks basic, fundamental knowledge of a subject yet attempts to perform complex tasks within that field. It highlights the absurdity of someone skipping the basics and trying to handle advanced matters, leading to inevitable failure or confusion.