వడ్డంతా పైరుకాదు, కడుపులన్నీ కాన్పులుగావు.

vaddanta pairukadu, kadupulanni kanpulugavu.

Translation

Not all greenery is a crop, and not every pregnancy results in a birth.

Meaning

This proverb is used to convey that appearances can be deceptive and that potential does not always lead to a successful outcome. Just as a lush green field might just be weeds rather than a harvestable crop, every effort or beginning does not necessarily guarantee a final result.

Related Phrases

Not everything black is water, and not everything white is milk.

This proverb is used as a warning to not judge anything based solely on its outward appearance. Just because something looks familiar or pure (like milk) doesn't mean it is. It emphasizes that reality can be different from superficial perception, advising people to be cautious and look deeper before forming a judgment.

While the child is still in the womb, the son is named Sômalingam.

This proverb describes a situation where someone makes plans or celebrates an outcome before it has actually happened or before the necessary conditions are met. It is similar to the English expression 'Counting your chickens before they hatch.' It is used to caution against over-anticipation or premature planning.

Boil not the pap before the child is born. * Tre lo sanno, tutti lo sanno. † Secret de deux, secret de Dieu; secret de trois, secret de tous.

A dog is not a cow, and a rabbit is not a tiger.

This expression is used to emphasize that things or people have their own inherent nature and limitations. One cannot change their fundamental character or identity to become something superior or entirely different just by imitation or wishful thinking.

You are a free-loader; you just shove it in but don't know the stomach ache.

This proverb is used to criticize someone who consumes or uses resources recklessly because they didn't have to work for them or earn them. It highlights the lack of responsibility or empathy shown by someone who enjoys benefits provided by others without understanding the effort or 'pain' involved in acquiring them.

Without the buttermilk in the stomach even moving

This expression is used to describe a state of absolute comfort, ease, or luxury where a person doesn't have to perform any physical labor or face any hardships. It literally suggests a life so stable and smooth that even the liquid in one's stomach remains undisturbed.

The fire in the stomach is an invisible fire.

This expression refers to internal suffering, deep grief, or hidden jealousy that others cannot see. While physical fires are visible, the 'burning' one feels due to hunger, emotional pain, or envy is hidden from the world but deeply felt by the individual.

We gave birth, but can we keep them inside the womb forever?

This proverb is used to express that parents, although they love their children deeply, must eventually let them go and allow them to lead their own lives. It is often used in the context of a daughter getting married and leaving her parental home, implying that one cannot hold onto their children indefinitely out of affection.

Like a mother of three children giving birth advice to a mother of seven.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where an inexperienced person tries to give advice or instructions to someone who is much more experienced and knowledgeable in that specific field. It highlights the irony and absurdity of someone with lesser experience trying to teach a veteran.

Not everything served is a feast, and not all who are born are true children.

This proverb highlights that quality and character matter more than mere existence or quantity. Just as every meal served isn't necessarily grand or nourishing, not every offspring fulfills the duties or brings honor to the family. It is used to express disappointment when someone or something fails to live up to the expected standard or moral value.

Neither like a person who has mounted an ox, nor like a mouth that has eaten curd rice.

This proverb is used to describe someone who lacks discipline, grace, or consistency in their actions. It refers to a person whose behavior is neither dignified (like a proper rider) nor satisfied/content (like someone who has had a good meal), indicating a state of being unrefined or chaotic.