వడ్లు ముత్తుం, పిచ్చికలు అర్దం
vadlu muttum, pichchikalu ardam
Three Tûms of paddy and six Tûms of sparrows. Losses keeping pace with gains.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the resources or results are insufficient because they are being consumed or wasted by many small, unnecessary factors. It highlights how the overhead or the number of dependents can drastically reduce the final outcome, leaving very little for the actual purpose.
Related Phrases
పిచ్చి కుదిరితే గానీ పెళ్లి కాదు, పెళ్లైతే గానీ పిచ్చి కుదరదు.
pichchi kudirite gani pelli kadu, pellaite gani pichchi kudaradu.
Unless the madness is cured, the marriage won't happen; and unless the marriage happens, the madness won't be cured.
This proverb describes a classic Catch-22 or a circular paradox where two conditions are dependent on each other, making it impossible to resolve either. It is used to describe a deadlock situation where you cannot start one thing without finishing the other, but the second thing cannot be finished without starting the first.
గింజలు ముత్తుము, పిట్టలు పన్నిద్దుము
ginjalu muttumu, pittalu panniddumu
Three bushels of grain for twelve bushels of birds.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the costs, losses, or overheads far exceed the actual value or profit of a task. It highlights inefficiency or a scenario where the effort put in is outweighed by the external interference or wastage.
బంగారు పిచ్చుక
bangaru pichchuka
Golden sparrow
A term used to describe something or someone that is extremely precious, rare, or a person who brings great fortune and prosperity. In a metaphorical sense, it refers to a person with a heart of gold or a highly valuable asset/opportunity.
పనివాడు పందిరివేస్తే, పిచ్చుకలు వచ్చి పడదోశాయట
panivadu pandiriveste, pichchukalu vachchi padadoshayata
When a laborer built a pavilion, it is said that sparrows came and knocked it down.
This proverb is used to mock someone's incompetence or the extreme fragility of their work. It describes a situation where a task is performed so poorly that even the slightest, most insignificant force (like a sparrow) is enough to destroy it.
తూమెడు వడ్లు తూర్పారపెట్టేటప్పటికి ఏదుము వడ్లు ఎలుకలు తిని పోయినవి.
tumedu vadlu turparapettetappatiki edumu vadlu elukalu tini poyinavi.
While he was winnowing one Tûm of rice, the rats devoured five Tûms.
This proverb describes a situation where the effort put into a small task results in a disproportionately large loss elsewhere due to negligence. It is used to mock people who focus on trivial matters while ignoring significant damage occurring right under their noses, or when the cost of an operation exceeds the benefit gained.
Tûm is the Indian bushel.
తూమెడు వడ్లు తూర్పారపెట్టేటప్పటికి ఏదుము వడ్లు ఎలుకలు తినిపోయినవి.
tumedu vadlu turparapettetappatiki edumu vadlu elukalu tinipoyinavi.
By the time one 'thumu' of grain was winnowed, rats ate up five 'thumus' of grain.
This proverb describes a situation where the effort spent on a small task results in a much larger loss due to negligence or lack of focus on the bigger picture. It is used when someone's trivial gains are outweighed by significant, preventable losses occurring simultaneously.
ఎవడి పిచ్చి వాడికానందం
evadi pichchi vadikanandam
Each person's madness is their own joy.
This proverb suggests that everyone has their own unique eccentricities, hobbies, or obsessions that might seem irrational to others but bring great satisfaction to themselves. It is used to express that happiness is subjective and one shouldn't judge what makes another person happy, even if it seems foolish.
వడ్లు ఏదుం, పిచ్చుకలు పందుం.
vadlu edum, pichchukalu pandum.
Paddy is five units, but the sparrows are ten units.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the expenditure or waste exceeds the actual income or resource. It highlights scenarios where the cost of protecting or maintaining something is higher than the value of the object itself.
పిచ్చి కుదిరితేగాని పెళ్లి కాదు, పెళ్లి అయితేనేగాని పిచ్చి కుదరదు
pichchi kudiritegani pelli kadu, pelli ayitenegani pichchi kudaradu
The madness won't be cured until the marriage happens, and the marriage won't happen until the madness is cured.
This expression describes a classic 'Catch-22' or a circular deadlock situation where two necessary conditions are dependent on each other, making it impossible to resolve either. It is often used to describe bureaucratic hurdles or complex problems where one cannot start without the other, yet neither can move forward.
పిచ్చివాడికి లోకమంతా పిచ్చే
pichchivadiki lokamanta pichche
To a madman, the whole world is mad
This expression describes a cognitive bias where a person with a flawed perspective or specific obsession assumes that everyone else shares the same madness or is wrong. It is used to point out that one's perception of the world is often a reflection of their own state of mind.