ఉద్దెర అయితే ఊళ్ళు కొంటారు, నగదు అయితే నశ్యం కూడా కొనరు.

uddera ayite ullu kontaru, nagadu ayite nashyam kuda konaru.

Translation

If it's on credit, they will buy whole villages; if it's for cash, they won't even buy a pinch of snuff.

Meaning

This proverb describes people who are overly ambitious or extravagant when they don't have to pay immediately, but become extremely stingy or cautious when they have to spend their own ready cash. It is used to mock someone's tendency to over-commit when there is no immediate financial consequence.

Related Phrases

When cheap it comes to the bazar.

This proverb is used to imply that things of true value or high quality are not easily available or common. It suggests that if something valuable were easy to obtain or inexpensive, it would be as common as any ordinary item found in a local market.

If it becomes cheap, it comes to the market

This proverb is used to describe something that has become so common or cheap that it is easily available to everyone. It is often used in a slightly mocking or cynical way to suggest that when the value or quality of something decreases, it loses its exclusivity and becomes public property or common knowledge.

If it is for free, give me two, he said.

This proverb is used to mock people who are overly greedy or take undue advantage when something is offered for free. It describes a situation where someone wants more than they need simply because they don't have to pay for it.

As for charity, I can't give; as for fines, I can pay. Said by a quarrelsome ruffian.

This proverb is used to describe a person's stubbornness or a specific situation where one refuses to spend money for a noble cause or charity (Danamu), but is eventually forced to spend even larger amounts on fines, losses, or useless expenses (Dandaga) due to their own negligence or ego.

When it is cheap, it comes to the bazar.

This proverb is used to criticize something of poor quality or low value. It implies that items are only readily available or brought to the market in abundance when they are cheap or inferior. It can also be applied to people or situations where someone shows up only when there is an easy benefit or no effort required.

If a rafter and half goes for a Visam, how much for a beam and a half? Chaffing an arithmetician.

This proverb is used to mock someone who is bad at basic arithmetic or logic. It illustrates a situation where a simple calculation is over-complicated or where the math is nonsensical, highlighting the absurdity of the person's reasoning or the disproportionate nature of a deal.

If a 'veesam' costs one-and-a-half 'vaasi', how much is a 'doolannara'?

This is a sarcastic expression used to dismiss someone who is talking nonsense or using complex, made-up calculations to confuse others. It is a retort to illogical arguments or meaningless statistics, essentially asking 'If your premise is nonsense, what is the value of this other nonsense?'

When it is cheap, all will buy.

This proverb is used to describe things that are easily accessible or low in price, leading to high demand regardless of quality. It can also be used metaphorically to suggest that when something loses its value or rarity, it is no longer exclusive or special.

If it is cheap, everyone will buy it.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a product, service, or idea is so low in price or effort that people flock to it regardless of its quality or necessity. It highlights the human tendency to be attracted to low-cost items and is often used as a cautionary remark about value versus price.

What if it is sharp when the time is not right?

This expression emphasizes that resources, skills, or opportunities are useless if they are not available at the right moment. It is used to point out that timing is more important than quality or preparation in specific critical situations.