వచ్చి ఏరాలి వొంతిన తిందువు, ఇప్పుడెలాగు, ఎలుక పొయ్యి ఎత్తుకపోయిందే!

vachchi erali vontina tinduvu, ippudelagu, eluka poyyi ettukapoyinde!

Translation

You were supposed to come, pick, and eat at your leisure; but what now, the rat has carried away the stove!

Meaning

This is a humorous and sarcastic proverb used to mock people who procrastinate or make grand plans based on things they don't yet possess. It highlights the absurdity of worrying about a secondary problem (how to cook/eat) when a foundational or impossible disaster has occurred (a rat carrying away a heavy clay stove). It is used when someone's excuses for not doing a task are nonsensical or when they have waited too long and lost the opportunity entirely.

Related Phrases

For the cat, fanciful play and for the mouse, mortal fear.

This refers to a situation when a powerful person/power attacks a weak person/power for self-glorification. It may be merely a (power)game for the powerful, but it will be a question of life and death for the weak.

Let the flow go where it may, but the ruler's word is the final judgment.

This proverb highlights that regardless of logic, natural flow, or common sense, the final decision rests with the person in authority. It is used to describe situations where one must follow the orders of a superior or a leader, even if it contradicts the expected course of action.

When asked what she ate with, she replied she ate with hunger.

This expression highlights that hunger is the best sauce. It implies that when someone is genuinely hungry, the specific side dishes or quality of food do not matter as much as the satisfaction of eating. It is used to describe a situation where necessity or intense desire makes even the simplest thing seem wonderful.

The mouth that spoke support must now eat the burden.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who supported or encouraged a wrong action or person ends up suffering the consequences or bearing the responsibility themselves. It emphasizes that if you back someone in their mistakes, you must be prepared to face the repercussions alongside them.

Oh sister-in-law! You can eat with the group that arrived earlier, but first come here!

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is given a false sense of urgency or is being manipulated with contradictory instructions. It highlights a scenario where a person is promised a benefit from a past event or a missed opportunity while being distracted by a current demand. It is often used to mock illogical or deceptive invitations.

Hard tongue, soft heart

This expression describes a person who speaks harshly or bluntly but possesses a very kind, compassionate, and gentle nature internally. It is used to characterize someone whose outward behavior might seem rude or strict, yet their intentions and character are deeply caring.

A house that is already built, and a hearth that is already set up.

This expression refers to entering a situation where everything is already perfectly prepared and ready for use without any effort from the person joining. It is most commonly used in the context of a bride entering a well-established household where she does not have to struggle to set up a new life or home from scratch.

Like the stew coming and washing away the rice grain.

This expression is used to describe a situation where something that was meant to be supplementary or a side-dish ends up overpowering or destroying the main component. It refers to cases where a small or secondary factor causes the loss of the primary objective or asset.

When a foolish woman gave birth to a child, a rat supposedly carried the baby away and placed it in a pile of grain.

This proverb is used to mock someone who is extremely naive, careless, or foolish. It highlights an absurd situation where someone's lack of intelligence or awareness leads to impossible or ridiculous excuses. It is often applied to people who cannot handle simple responsibilities and blame external, illogical factors for their failures.

Every house has a brick stove, while our house has a clay stove.

This proverb is used to highlight that despite outward appearances or slight differences, basic problems and human nature are universal. It implies that everyone faces similar struggles and that no one is truly unique in their suffering or circumstances.