ఊరంతా వడ్లు ఎండబెట్టుకుంటే, నక్క తోక ఎండబెట్టుకుందట
uranta vadlu endabettukunte, nakka toka endabettukundata
When the whole village put their rice in the sun to dry, the jackal put his tail to dry. Foolish imitation.
This proverb is used to describe someone who tries to imitate others' actions without understanding the purpose or importance of the task, often doing something irrelevant or foolish just to fit in. It highlights the difference between productive work and mindless imitation.
Related Phrases
పులిని చూచి నక్క వాతలు పెట్టుకున్నట్లు
pulini chuchi nakka vatalu pettukunnatlu
Like a fox branding itself with stripes after seeing a tiger
This proverb describes a situation where someone foolishly tries to imitate others who are naturally superior or more capable, often causing self-harm or ridicule in the process. It is used to mock people who blindly copy others without having the same inherent talent or status.
నీరు కట్టేవాడు తన మడి ఎండబెట్టుకోడు
niru kattevadu tana madi endabettukodu
The one who regulates the water flow will not let his own field dry up.
This proverb highlights that a person in a position of authority or control over resources will always ensure their own needs are met first. It is often used to describe self-interest or the inherent advantage one gains from being in charge of a process.
ఊరంతా వడ్లెండబెట్టుకొంటే, నక్కతోక ఎండబెట్టుకొన్నదట
uranta vadlendabettukonte, nakkatoka endabettukonnadata
While the whole village was drying grain, someone was drying a fox's tail.
This proverb describes a person who does something useless, eccentric, or irrelevant while everyone else is engaged in productive or essential work. It is used to mock people who lack a sense of priority or follow trends in a foolish and meaningless way.
ఏరు ఏడామడ ఉండగానే చీర విప్పి చంకబెట్టుకొన్నదట
eru edamada undagane chira vippi chankabettukonnadata
She allegedly took off her saree and tucked it under her arm even while the river was seven miles away.
This proverb is used to describe someone who is overly anxious or prepares prematurely for an event that is still very far off. It mocks people who take drastic actions or get excited about a situation long before it actually arrives.
పులిని చూసి నక్క వాత పెట్టుకున్నట్టు
pulini chusi nakka vata pettukunnattu
The jackal branded himself with spots like a tiger. Vulgar display. Apeing one's superiors.
This proverb is used to describe a person who foolishly tries to imitate someone superior or more capable than themselves, often resulting in self-harm or ridicule. It highlights the folly of blind imitation without having the inherent nature or strength of the person being copied.
వంట అంతా అయినది గాని, వడ్లు ఒక పొలుపు ఎండవలసి ఉన్నది.
vanta anta ayinadi gani, vadlu oka polupu endavalasi unnadi.
The dinner is quite ready, the paddy merely requires another drying.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone claims to be finished with a large task, yet a fundamental, time-consuming preliminary step is still incomplete. It highlights a comical or ironic lack of logic, where the final result is impossible because the starting materials aren't even ready yet.
Paddy is an Anglo Indian term for rice in the husk. A hasty and ridiculous answer.
పులిని చూచి నక్క వాతలు పెట్టుకొన్నట్లు
pulini chuchi nakka vatalu pettukonnatlu
Like a fox branding itself with stripes after seeing a tiger.
This proverb is used to describe someone who foolishly tries to imitate others who are naturally superior or more capable, often causing harm to themselves in the process. It highlights the vanity and folly of blind imitation without having the inherent strength or status of the person being mimicked.
వన్నెలమ్మను వండబెట్టిన ఇంటిరాజులను పండబెట్టిందట.
vannelammanu vandabettina intirajulanu pandabettindata.
The woman who was asked to cook ended up laying the household men to rest.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who was brought in to help or perform a simple task ends up causing complete destruction or ruin. It highlights the irony of a person’s incompetence or malicious nature resulting in a disaster far worse than the original problem they were meant to solve.
అనుమానపు మొగుడు ఆలిని వీపుకు కట్టుకొంటే, పెండ్లాము మిండ మగనిని కొప్పులో పెట్టుకొన్నదట.
anumanapu mogudu alini vipuku kattukonte, pendlamu minda maganini koppulo pettukonnadata.
If a suspicious husband ties his wife to his back, the wife hides her lover in her hair bun.
This proverb highlights that extreme suspicion or over-protective control cannot prevent someone from being unfaithful if they intend to be. It suggests that if a person is determined to deceive, they will find a way regardless of how many restrictions or monitoring measures are put in place by a jealous partner.
చెట్టు ఎక్కేవాణ్ని ఎందాకా తోయవచ్చును?
chettu ekkevanni endaka toyavachchunu?
How far can you push a man up a tree? How long is a man to be assisted ?
This proverb is used to explain that you can only help or encourage someone who is already making an effort to succeed. It implies that external assistance has limits and is most effective when the recipient is proactive and self-motivated.
* Domandar chi naque prima, l' uovo o la gallina.