ఉపాధ్యాయుడు ఏమి చెప్తున్నాడు అంటే, అబద్ధాలు వ్రాసి దిద్దుకుంటున్నాడు అన్నాడట
upadhyayudu emi cheptunnadu ante, abaddhalu vrasi diddukuntunnadu annadata
When asked what the teacher was saying, he replied that the teacher was writing lies and correcting them.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is engaged in a pointless, self-serving, or dishonest activity. It specifically mocks people who create their own problems (or falsehoods) just to appear busy or virtuous by fixing them. It highlights the absurdity of circular logic or redundant, deceptive work.
Related Phrases
పనిలేని పాపరాజు ఏమి చేస్తున్నాడంటే, కుందేటి కొమ్ముకు రేఖలు తీరుస్తున్నాడు అన్నాడట
panileni paparaju emi chestunnadante, kundeti kommuku rekhalu tirustunnadu annadata
When they asked what idle Pâpa Râzu was about, they were told that he was carving lines on a hare's horn.
This expression is used to describe a person who is engaged in completely useless, absurd, or impossible tasks because they have nothing productive to do. Since rabbits do not have horns, 'drawing lines on a rabbit's horn' signifies wasting time on non-existent or futile activities.
వంకర టింకర కాయలు ఏమిటివి అంటే, చిన్ననాడు అమ్మిన చింతకాయలు అన్నాడట
vankara tinkara kayalu emitivi ante, chinnanadu ammina chintakayalu annadata
When she asked "What are those crooked pods?" they re- plied "The unripe tamarinds you sold in your youth." The story goes that the daughter of very poor parents who in her youth had to go about selling the unripe tamarinds she was able to gather from under the trees, afterwards became the wife of a rich man. Passing through the streets one day in her grand palankin, she superciliously enquired what a tamarind girl was selling, when her bearers replied as above, "These are the tamarinds Madam, which you sold in your youth." To take one a peg lower. You used to be a baker though now you wear gloves. (Spanish.)
This proverb is used to describe someone who tries to justify their current mistakes or poor behavior by linking them to past habits or experiences. It also mocks people who give obvious or silly explanations for things that are common knowledge, pretending as if they have discovered something unique.
కాదు కాదు అంటే నాది నాది అన్నాడట.
kadu kadu ante nadi nadi annadata.
When one said "Kādu, Kādu" the other said "Nādi, Nādi."
This proverb describes a situation where someone persistently tries to claim ownership or credit for something even after being explicitly told it doesn't belong to them or is incorrect. It is used to mock people who are shamelessly stubborn or opportunistic despite being rejected.
Kādu in Telugu means " it is not," "no;" in Tamil it signifies " the ear." A Telugu man on one occasion accidentally stuck the barb of his spear into a Tamilian's ear, on which the latter cried out "Kādu! Kādu!" ( My ear! my ear! ) The Telugu man thinking he meant to say " Not yours, not yours" pulled at the spear all the harder, saying "Nādi! Nādi!" (It's mine! it's mine!). Said to a man who is obstinate in argument.
తాతాచార్యులేం చేస్తున్నారంటే తప్పులు చేసి దిద్దుకుంటున్నారు
tatacharyulem chestunnarante tappulu chesi diddukuntunnaru
When asked what Tatacharyulu is doing, he is making mistakes and then correcting them.
This expression is used to describe someone who repeats the same mistakes over and over, or someone who engages in unproductive work that involves creating a problem just to fix it. It highlights a cycle of useless effort or a lack of real progress.
మీ గొడ్డుకు యింత తవుడు అంటే, మీ బిడ్డకు యిన్ని పాలు అన్నాడట.
mi godduku yinta tavudu ante, mi biddaku yinni palu annadata.
One said "Here is bran for your cow," the other replied "Here is milk for your child."
This proverb emphasizes the principle of 'cause and effect' or 'investment and return.' Just as feeding livestock well leads to better yield, putting effort or resources into a task will yield proportional benefits. It is used to suggest that if you want a good outcome, you must first provide the necessary inputs or care.
Interchange of kindly acts. One good turn deserves another.
ఏకాదశినాడు తల అంటుకొంటావేమి అంటే, అది నిత్యవ్రతము నేడే ఆరంభము అన్నాడట; మర్నాడు తల యెందుకు అంటుకోలేదంటే, నిన్నటితో వ్రతసమాప్తి అన్నాడట.
ekadashinadu tala antukontavemi ante, adi nityavratamu nede arambhamu annadata; marnadu tala yenduku antukoledante, ninnatito vratasamapti annadata.
"What! are you anointing your head on the Ékâdaśi?" said one, "That is a daily task, which I have commenced to- day," replied the other. When asked next day "Why have you not anointed your head?" he said "Yesterday completed my task." Said in joke of a man who does not observe the ceremonial laws.
This proverb describes a hypocrite or a lazy person who makes up convenient excuses to suit their whims. It refers to people who justify their actions with grand promises when it's convenient, but abandon those same principles immediately when they no longer wish to follow them. It is used to mock inconsistent behavior and flimsy rationalizations.
ఉపాధ్యాయులు ఏమి చేస్తున్నాడంటే, అబద్ధాలు వ్రాసి దిద్దుకుంటున్నాడు అన్నాడట.
upadhyayulu emi chestunnadante, abaddhalu vrasi diddukuntunnadu annadata.
When asked what the school master was doing, one replied " he is correcting the mistakes he has made." A bad workman.
This proverb is used to mock someone who engages in futile, self-created work just to appear busy or productive. It describes a situation where a person creates their own problems or errors only to spend time fixing them, resulting in no actual progress or value. It is often applied to bureaucrats or professionals who indulge in unnecessary paperwork or circular logic.
నాడు వ్రాసినవాడు నేడు తుడిపి మళ్ళీ వ్రాస్తాడా
nadu vrasinavadu nedu tudipi malli vrastada
Will the one who wrote it then, wipe it off and rewrite it today?
This expression refers to the concept of destiny or 'Brahma Lipi' (the writing of Fate). It suggests that what is destined to happen according to one's karma or fate cannot be changed, erased, or rewritten by anyone. It is used to express resignation toward inevitable life events or to emphasize that one's lot in life is predetermined.
ఉపాధ్యాయుల వారు ఏం చేస్తున్నారు అంటే రాసిన తప్పులు దిద్దుకుంటున్నారట
upadhyayula varu em chestunnaru ante rasina tappulu diddukuntunnarata
When asked what the teacher is doing, they said he is correcting the mistakes he wrote himself.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is supposed to be an expert or a guide makes basic mistakes and spends their time fixing their own errors instead of helping others. It satirizes incompetence in positions of authority or expertise.
కురూపి ఏమి చేస్తున్నాడంటే, సురూపాలన్నీ లెక్కపెడుతున్నాడు.
kurupi emi chestunnadante, surupalanni lekkapedutunnadu.
When one enquired what the ugly man was doing, [he was told that] he was counting all the good looking people. An ugly person finds fault with the looks of others. The kiln calls the oven burnt house. The shovel makes game of the poker. (French.)† The pan says to the pot " keep off or you'll smutch me." (Italian.)
This proverb is used to describe someone who, instead of focusing on their own shortcomings or fixing their own problems, spends all their time judging, critiquing, or obsessing over the qualities and successes of others. It highlights the irony of being preoccupied with things one lacks.
* Adonde vas, mal ? Adonde mas hay. † La pèle se moque du fourgon. ‡ La padella dice al pajuolo, Fatti in la che tu me tigni,