వరుసలెల్ల వల్లకాటిలో పెట్టి, వదినె పిన్నమ్మా గంపెత్తు.
varusalella vallakatilo petti, vadine pinnamma gampettu.
Put all relationships in the graveyard, then ask 'Sister-in-law/Aunt, help me lift this basket'.
This proverb describes a hypocritical person who disregards social decorum and treats others disrespectfully, but shamelessly claims a relationship or asks for help the moment they need a favor. It is used to criticize those who value relationships only for their own convenience.
Related Phrases
వేసాలెల్లా గ్రాసాలకే
vesalella grasalake
Every garb ( i. e. occupation ) is for food.
This proverb suggests that all the hard work, various roles, or pretenses a person adopts are ultimately driven by the necessity of earning a livelihood. It is often used to remind someone that regardless of their status or the 'mask' they wear, the primary goal is survival and basic needs.
వెట్టివాడి పెళ్ళాం వాడకల్లా వదినే
vettivadi pellam vadakalla vadine
The wife of a forced laborer is a sister-in-law to the entire street.
This proverb describes a situation where someone who is helpless, soft-natured, or lacks social standing is taken advantage of by everyone. Just as a 'Vadina' (sister-in-law) in a traditional sense can be joked with or assigned tasks, it implies that when a person cannot defend their boundaries, the whole community feels entitled to exploit them or treat them with overly familiar authority.
పెట్టనమ్మ పెట్టదు గానీ, పెట్టే అమ్మను పెట్టనివ్వదు.
pettanamma pettadu gani, pette ammanu pettanivvadu.
A woman who does not give [ alms ] will never give ; what evil has happened to the jade who does give ?
This proverb describes a person who neither does a good deed themselves nor allows others to do it. It is used to criticize dog-in-the-manger behavior where someone obstructs progress or charity despite having no intention of contributing themselves.
Said by a beggar of one from whom he generally received alms.
ఉన్నమ్మ ఉన్నమ్మకే పెట్టె, లేనమ్మా ఉన్నమ్మకే పెట్టె
unnamma unnammake pette, lenamma unnammake pette
The woman who has gives to the woman who has; the woman who has not also gives to the woman who has.
This proverb describes a social irony where resources or gifts tend to flow towards those who are already wealthy or powerful, rather than to those in need. It highlights that everyone seeks to please the rich, while the poor are often ignored or even forced to give up what little they have to those above them.
అక్కాచెల్లెళ్ళకు అన్నంపెట్టి లెక్క వ్రాసినట్లు.
akkachellellaku annampetti lekka vrasinatlu.
Like feeding one's own sisters and keeping an account of it.
This proverb refers to someone who is extremely stingy or overly meticulous in a petty way. It describes the absurdity of tracking expenses or expecting repayment for acts of kindness or duty performed for close family members, where unconditional love should prevail over accounting.
మగడు వల్లనమ్మను మారీ వల్లదు.
magadu vallanammanu mari valladu.
Even the goddess of pestilence passes over the woman un- loved by her husband. Because her misery cannot be augmented; death would only release her from her sufferings. Māri or Māriyamma (Sans. Māri) is the fury supposed to preside over the small-pox and other epidemiological diseases. You cannot damage a wrecked ship. (Ilanan.)
This proverb is used to describe a person who is so unfortunate or troublesome that they are rejected by everyone, including their own family and even fate. It signifies a state of total abandonment or being an outcast whom nobody wants to take responsibility for.
వడ్డించేవాడు మనవాడైతే, కడబంతిలో కూర్చున్నా భయం లేదు
vaddinchevadu manavadaite, kadabantilo kurchunna bhayam ledu
If the person serving the food is one of our own, there is no fear even if we sit in the last row.
This proverb signifies that if you have an influential person or a decision-maker on your side, you will get what you deserve (or more) regardless of your position or timing. It is often used to describe nepotism or the advantages of having powerful connections.
చూరులో నిప్పుపెట్టి, కొప్పలో పెట్టనా అన్నట్లు
churulo nippupetti, koppalo pettana annatlu
Setting fire to the eaves and asking if I should set fire to the hair bun too.
This expression describes a person who has already caused significant damage or committed a grave error and then asks for permission or guidance to do something even worse. It is used to mock people who act innocently after being intentionally destructive or those who lack common sense regarding the magnitude of their mistakes.
కంపు పెట్టుకొని గంపెడు తిన్నట్లు.
kampu pettukoni gampedu tinnatlu.
Like eating a basketful while putting up with a foul smell.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone endures something highly unpleasant or shameful just to satisfy their greed or achieve a selfish gain. It highlights the irony of tolerating something disgusting for the sake of material benefit.
పేదవాని పెళ్ళాం ఊరందరికీ వదిన
pedavani pellam urandariki vadina
A poor man's wife is a sister-in-law to the whole village.
This proverb illustrates how people in power or those with higher social status often take liberties with or lack respect for those who are vulnerable or lack protection. It suggests that when someone is poor or weak, everyone feels entitled to treat them with over-familiarity or disregard their dignity.