వాడలో నా పోకచెక్క సగం వున్నది భాయీ
vadalo na pokachekka sagam vunnadi bhayi
My half areca nut is in the ship, brother! A merchant was returning to his country in a ship which he had laden with areca-nuts. A friend on board cunningly dropped half of a nut which he was eating into the hold, exclaiming "My half nut is in the ship, brother!" The merchant laughing replied that he would restore it, on which the other, pretending to carry on the joke, made him give a bond to the effect that his half areca-nut was in the ship. The phrase also could be construed as meaning that half the areca-nuts in the ship were his. On arriving at their destination the merchant was prosecuted by the swindler and cheated out of half his cargo. Said of a clever cheat.
This expression is used to mock people who try to claim a share or establish a connection in something they have no right to, or who exaggerate their minimal involvement in a big event. It highlights the absurdity of claiming ownership or importance based on a trivial or non-existent contribution.
Related Phrases
సగం సాలె నేత, సగం మాల నేత
sagam sale neta, sagam mala neta
Half weaver's weaving, half laborer's weaving
This proverb is used to describe work that is inconsistent, fragmented, or lacks uniformity. It refers to a task performed by people with different styles or skill levels, resulting in a product that is not seamless or professionally finished. It is often applied to situations where multiple people handle a single job without coordination, leading to a messy outcome.
మణుగు సగము, మైలా సగమే.
manugu sagamu, maila sagame.
Half purity, half impurity.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks consistency or a situation that is neither here nor there. It refers to someone who tries to follow traditional customs (purity) but fails to do so completely (impurity), resulting in a state of confusion or hypocrisy. It characterizes an inconsistent or messy approach to tasks.
లేస్తే కొరగాను భాయీ
leste koraganu bhayi
If I get up, I'll give it you, my boy! The story is that a certain custom house official had no legs, but he used to threaten travellers who attempted to evade payment of duty, until the secret was found out. Applied to powerless threats. If you cannot bite, don't show your teeth.
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely lazy, lethargic, or lacking initiative. It conveys a sense of total inertia, implying that the person finds it difficult to even start a task, and even if they do, they are useless or ineffective.
* Beter een blind paard, dan een leeg halter. 42 ( 329 )
రానున్నది రాకమానదు పోనున్నది పోకమానదు
ranunnadi rakamanadu ponunnadi pokamanadu
That which is destined to come will not fail to come; that which is destined to go will not fail to go.
This expression is used to convey a sense of fatalism or acceptance of destiny. It suggests that certain events in life are inevitable, whether they involve gains or losses, and one should remain equanimous because human effort cannot alter what is preordained.
ఓలో సగం చెప్పు నాయనా అన్నాడట
olo sagam cheppu nayana annadata
In O teach me half, O father! Said by a spoilt child who wished his father to teach him half a letter at a time.
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely lazy or lacks the patience to listen to even a small piece of information. It refers to a humorous situation where someone finds it too burdensome to hear a single letter and asks for it to be shortened, highlighting extreme lethargy or ignorance.
వండుతూ ఉండగా వాంతి వస్తున్నది అంటే, ఉండి భోజనం చేసి పొమ్మన్నదట
vandutu undaga vanti vastunnadi ante, undi bhojanam chesi pommannadata
When he said "[The sight of] your cooking makes me sick," she replied "Please stay and eat your dinner before you go."
This proverb is used to describe a sarcastic or ironic situation where a person's excuse to avoid a task or a place is met with an even more inconvenient or absurd demand. It highlights the lack of empathy or total misunderstanding of someone's discomfort, or a situation where someone is forced to endure exactly what they are trying to escape from.
అడకత్తెరలో పోకచెక్కలాగా
adakatteralo pokachekkalaga
Like a betel nut in a nutcracker
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is caught between two opposing forces, difficulties, or powerful parties with no way to escape. It is the Telugu equivalent of the English idiom 'between a rock and a hard place'.
ఓలో సగం చెప్ప నాయనా అన్నాడట
olo sagam cheppa nayana annadata
Please say at least half of the letter 'O', my son, he said.
This expression is used to mock someone who is extremely lazy, slow to learn, or completely uncooperative even when the task is simplified to the smallest possible degree. It refers to a humorous situation where a teacher or parent is so frustrated by a student's silence that they beg for even a tiny fraction of a simple sound/letter just to see some progress.
సగం సాలనేత, సగం మాల నేత
sagam salaneta, sagam mala neta
Half weaver's weave, half scavenger's weave
This expression refers to a task or piece of work that is done inconsistently or in a haphazard manner. It describes something that is neither here nor there, lacking a uniform standard or quality because it was handled by different people with different skill levels or methods. It is used to criticize a job that lacks perfection and coherence.
ఊరు ఉన్నది, చిప్ప ఉన్నది
uru unnadi, chippa unnadi
There is the village and here is my cup. Said by a beggar.
This expression is used to describe a state of complete carelessness, detachment, or having nothing to lose. It implies that as long as there is a society to live in and a basic means to survive (even by begging), one need not worry about responsibilities or property. It is often said by or about people who are wandering or living a carefree, nomadic life without any attachments.