ఉస్తికాయంత ఈరెంటి, నంజుకు పెట్టనంత
ustikayanta irenti, nanjuku pettananta
How much is a turkey berry's juice, and how much is the curry made from it?
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the resources or the source material is so small or insignificant that the final output or benefit derived from it is negligible. It highlights the irony of trying to make something substantial out of something very tiny.
Related Phrases
పాపటకాయ కొరకనెంత ఆకు పెట్టనెంత?
papatakaya korakanenta aku pettanenta?
A bramble is neither large enough to bite nor to place on a dish.
This proverb is used to describe a trivial or insignificant task that requires very little effort or time. It highlights things that are so small or easy that one shouldn't make a fuss about doing them. It is often used when someone hesitates to do a very minor favor or simple job.
Pâpata is the Pavetta Indica. A quantity quite inadequate to one's wants.
లంజ పితృదేవతలకు పెట్టి ఆకాశం చూసినట్టు
lanja pitridevatalaku petti akasham chusinattu
A harlot made an offering to the manes of her ancestors and looked towards heaven.
This expression is used to describe hypocritical behavior or someone performing a pious act while their character or intentions are completely contradictory to the sanctity of the ritual. It highlights the irony of someone who lacks virtue expecting divine or traditional rewards through superficial actions.
ఊరు ఉస్తికాయంత, సిద్ధాంతం తాటికాయంత.
uru ustikayanta, siddhantam tatikayanta.
The village is the size of a berry, but the rulebook is the size of a palm fruit.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the overhead, bureaucracy, or theory is much larger and more complex than the actual subject or problem itself. It highlights the irony of having excessive rules or grand plans for a very small or insignificant matter.
పెట్టనమ్మ పెట్టదు గానీ, పెట్టే అమ్మను పెట్టనివ్వదు.
pettanamma pettadu gani, pette ammanu pettanivvadu.
A woman who does not give [ alms ] will never give ; what evil has happened to the jade who does give ?
This proverb describes a person who neither does a good deed themselves nor allows others to do it. It is used to criticize dog-in-the-manger behavior where someone obstructs progress or charity despite having no intention of contributing themselves.
Said by a beggar of one from whom he generally received alms.
ఊరు ఉసిరికాయంత, సిద్ధాంతము తాటికాయంత
uru usirikayanta, siddhantamu tatikayanta
The village is like the Ustekâya and the religious duties are like the Tâṭikâya. The Ustekâya ( No. 339 ) is a small fruit, and the Tâṭikâya ( No. 390 ) a large fruit. Applied to exactions imposed upon people for religious purposes greater than they can bear.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a minor issue or a small entity is governed by overly complex, heavy, or disproportionate rules and theories. It highlights the absurdity of having excessive bureaucracy or complicated procedures for a very small and simple matter.
కూర్చుండి లేవలేడుగాని, ఎగసి తాటికాయ తంతానంటాడు
kurchundi levaledugani, egasi tatikaya tantanantadu
He cannot even get up from a sitting position, but he says he will jump and kick a palmyra fruit.
This proverb is used to describe someone who lacks the basic ability or resources to perform a simple task, yet makes boastful claims about achieving something incredibly difficult or impossible. It mocks overambition and empty boasting by highlighting the gap between a person's actual capacity and their tall claims.
ఉస్తెకాయ ఊరనెంత, నంజ పెట్టనెంత
ustekaya uranenta, nanja pettanenta
How long does it take to salt an Ustekâya ? How much is there of it to put on a dish ?
This proverb is used to describe something that is trivial, insignificant, or very small in scale. Just as a tiny nightshade berry (usthekaaya) requires almost no time to pickle and provides very little substance as a side dish, the expression refers to tasks that are finished in a blink or resources that are too meager to make a difference.
Ustekâya ( Solanum Trilobatum ) is a small fruit. Applied to something very insignificant. ఊ.
పెట్టేవాడిని చూస్తే ఆశ, కొట్టేవాడిని చూస్తే భయం
pettevadini chuste asha, kottevadini chuste bhayam
Greed when seeing the giver, fear when seeing the hitter.
This expression describes a person who is opportunistic and fickle, driven entirely by self-interest. It refers to someone who displays excitement and greed when there is a chance to receive something for free, but becomes fearful and submissive when faced with authority or a threat.
పాపటకాయ కొయ్యడానికి ఎంత, ఆకు పెట్టడానికి ఎంత
papatakaya koyyadaniki enta, aku pettadaniki enta
How much for cutting the fruit, and how much for placing the leaf?
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is overly calculating or stingy about every minor detail or small step in a process. It mocks people who demand separate compensation or recognition for tiny, insignificant tasks that are part of a single simple action.
ఎద్దు మోసినంత, గోనె పట్టినంత
eddu mosinanta, gone pattinanta
As much as the bullock can carry, as much as the bag will hold. No more can be taken.
This proverb is used to describe things that are limited by physical capacity or practical constraints. It refers to a situation where one's efforts or gains are restricted to the maximum volume of the container or the strength of the bearer, implying that there is a definite cap on what can be achieved or obtained.
* Effen is kwaad passen.