ఉండి చూడు ఊరు అందం, నానాటికి చూడు నా అందం

undi chudu uru andam, nanatiki chudu na andam

Translation

Stay and see the beauty of the village, watch my beauty grow day by day

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a person who initially appears humble or unassuming, but as time passes, their true (often negative, arrogant, or troublesome) nature reveals itself. It is a sarcastic way of saying that someone's real character or 'true colors' become more evident the longer you know them.

Related Phrases

O Jackal! Jackal! look at my Nāmam, if you look again see my Tirumani. —Tirumani ( lit. sacred earth ) is the name given to the outer lines, made with white clay, of the Nāmam.

This expression is used to describe a cunning or deceptive person who tries to distract others with religious or righteous appearances while hiding their true intentions. It refers to someone who uses superficial symbols of piety to cover up their deceitful nature, often used when someone is being hypocritically holy.

Wait and see the beauty of the village, but examine my beauty day by day. Said by an ugly man in a dirty village.

This expression is used to describe something that reveals its true value or quality over a long period rather than immediately. It implies that while the charm of a place (the village) might be constant, the person's own worth, skills, or beauty will become increasingly apparent as time passes.

Decoration is the beauty of a hair bun, and a fair trial is the beauty of a mistake.

This proverb highlights the importance of propriety and resolution. Just as flowers or jewels enhance a hair bun, a mistake or a conflict should be addressed through a proper inquiry or dispute resolution process to bring a sense of justice or 'beauty' to an otherwise messy situation. It emphasizes that problems should be faced and solved rather than ignored.

Try building a house, try performing a wedding.

This proverb highlights the two most challenging, resource-intensive, and complex tasks in a person's life: constructing a home and organizing a marriage. It suggests that one only understands the true extent of the effort, patience, and financial strain involved once they personally undertake these responsibilities.

Look at the cheeks of one who rose from ruins, look at the clothes of one who fell from prosperity.

This proverb highlights how past circumstances leave a mark. A person who was once poor but became wealthy will have a healthy, glowing face (cheeks) due to current nourishment, yet their humble beginnings might still be reflected in their lifestyle. Conversely, a person who was once rich but is now poor will still try to maintain their dignity and status through their neat, albeit old, clothing.

Try building a house, try making a marriage. An expense greater than contemplated. Building and the marrying of children are great wasters.

This proverb highlights that building a home and organizing a marriage are the two most challenging and resource-intensive tasks in a person's life. It suggests that one only understands the true extent of the effort, financial strain, and unforeseen difficulties involved once they actually undertake these responsibilities.

Look at the cheeks of one who rose from ruin, and look at the clothes of one who fell from prosperity.

This proverb highlights the physical and visible remnants of a person's past circumstances. Someone who was once poor but became wealthy often retains a healthy, glowing appearance (plump cheeks) from their new prosperity. Conversely, someone who was once wealthy but lost everything often tries to maintain their dignity by wearing their old, high-quality clothes, which are now worn out or reflect their former status.

Try all of those, then try putting me in.

This proverb is specifically used regarding salt in cooking. It implies that no matter how many other ingredients or spices you add to a dish, it will not be flavorful or complete until salt (the speaker in this personification) is added. It is used to highlight the indispensable nature of a specific person or element in a situation.

Moonlight is the beauty of the night, while ears of grain are the beauty of the field

This expression highlights that everything has a specific element that gives it completeness and beauty. Just as the night is incomplete without the moon, a crop field is only truly beautiful and purposeful when it bears grain. It is often used to describe how certain attributes or outcomes define the true value of an entity.

A bow to you, a bow to your food. Said when offered bad food.

This expression is used when someone is fed up with another person's troublesome behavior or difficult nature. It signifies a desire to cut ties or stay away from them, implying 'I don't want your company, nor do I want to share a meal with you; just leave me alone.'