వగలు ఎందుకంటే పొగాకు కోసం అన్నట్లు.
vagalu endukante pogaku kosam annatlu.
If you ask why the flirtatious acting, it's for the tobacco.
This proverb describes a situation where someone puts on an elaborate act, shows off, or behaves pretentiously just to obtain something very minor or trivial. It is used to criticize people whose dramatic efforts are disproportionate to their small, selfish goals.
Related Phrases
కూటి కొసం కోటి విద్యలు.
kuti kosam koti vidyalu.
Ten million skills are all for earning one’s livelihood.
The purpose, by and large, of acquisition of diverse special skills is only to make a living.
పాలకోసం పొదుగుకోసినట్లు
palakosam podugukosinatlu
Like cutting the udder for milk
This expression describes the actions of someone who, out of greed or impatience for an immediate small gain, destroys the very source of their long-term benefit. It is used when a person's short-sightedness leads to a permanent loss.
అరవై ఏండ్లకు అగ్గిగండం అన్నట్లు.
aravai endlaku aggigandam annatlu.
Like saying there is a danger of fire at sixty years of age.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone predicts or faces an unnecessary or unexpected catastrophe just when things are supposed to be settled or peaceful. It refers to an ironic or ill-timed misfortune occurring late in life or at an inappropriate time.
ఏడు నెలలకు ఎందుకు నడకలు అన్నట్లు
edu nelalaku enduku nadakalu annatlu
Like asking why a seven-month-old is not walking.
This expression is used to describe someone who is being impatient or expecting results prematurely. It highlights the absurdity of expecting an outcome before the natural or required amount of time has passed, just as it is unrealistic to expect a seven-month-old infant to walk.
టెంకాయ చెట్టు ఎందుకెక్కావురా అంటే దూడ గడ్డి కోసం అన్నట్టు
tenkaya chettu endukekkavura ante duda gaddi kosam annattu
When asked why did you climb the coconut tree, he replied 'for calf's grass'
This proverb describes a situation where someone gives a completely illogical, irrelevant, or foolish excuse for their actions. It is used when someone is caught doing something suspicious or wrong and tries to justify it with an answer that makes no sense, as grass does not grow on top of coconut trees.
సంకటి కోసం రాగులు గంజికోసం చోళ్ళు
sankati kosam ragulu ganjikosam chollu
Finger millets for the porridge, and Ragi for the gruel.
In Telugu, 'Ragulu' and 'Chollu' are synonyms for the same grain (Finger Millet). This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is being redundant, making unnecessary distinctions between identical things, or pretending to offer different choices that are actually the same.
అతి రహస్యం - తుమ్మితే ఊడిపోయే ముక్కు
ati rahasyam - tummite udipoye mukku
A great secret is like a nose that falls off when you sneeze.
This expression is used to describe a secret that is so poorly kept or fragile that the slightest action reveals it. It mocks someone who tries to act very secretive about something that is already obvious or easily discovered.
రోగాలు రాగాలు ఎన్నెన్నో ఉన్నాయి
rogalu ragalu ennenno unnayi
Diseases and melodies are numerous.
This expression is used to signify that the world is filled with endless variety and complexity, ranging from the painful (diseases/ailments) to the beautiful (melodies/tunes). It is often used to comment on the unpredictable and multifaceted nature of life or to dismiss someone's endless complaining by suggesting that there is no end to problems or excuses in the world.
చాదస్తం అంటే చెరిసగం అన్నట్లు
chadastam ante cherisagam annatlu
If one says 'Chadam' (the ritualistic name), the other says 'stam' (the completion) — meaning exactly half-and-half.
This proverb is used to describe two people who are perfectly matched in their foolishness, stubbornness, or eccentricities. It suggests that if one person starts a silly act, the other completes it, implying they are both equally responsible for a peculiar or impractical situation.
పొగాకు అడుక్కోవాలి, అందలం బయట పెట్టరా అన్నట్లు
pogaku adukkovali, andalam bayata pettara annatlu
Asking for tobacco while ordering someone to bring out the palanquin.
This expression is used to describe a person who behaves with excessive pride or maintains a high status ego even when they are in a state of poverty or are begging for basic needs. It highlights the irony of someone who lacks even a bit of tobacco but still speaks in a commanding tone as if they are royalty.