పట్టేట ఓడ ఉండగా, వద రూదినట్లు.
patteta oda undaga, vada rudinatlu.
Like blowing into a hole when the boat is already docked.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is performing a redundant or useless task. Just as it is futile to blow air to steer or move a boat that has already reached the shore and is secured, it refers to efforts made after a task is already completed or when the effort is no longer necessary.
Related Phrases
నట్టేట పుట్టి ముణిగినట్టు
natteta putti muniginattu
Like a basket boat sinking as it reached the middle of the river. A break down half way, in any business.
This expression describes a situation where someone experiences a total loss or failure just when they are at the most critical or deepest point of a task. It is used to express feelings of being completely helpless or facing a disaster at a crucial moment when there is no hope of rescue.
కాస్త ఓడంటే అంచంతా ఓడన్నట్లు.
kasta odante anchanta odannatlu.
If you say it's a bit of a boat, they say the whole edge is a boat.
This proverb describes a situation where someone takes a small suggestion or a minor concession and exaggerates it to an extreme degree. It refers to people who do not know where to draw the line or those who take undue advantage of a small opening.
అదైవస్తే అడ్డగ, వాడైపోతే రూక
adaivaste addaga, vadaipote ruka
If it comes, it's an 'Addaga' (a small measure); if it goes, it's a 'Rooka' (a small coin).
This proverb describes a win-win situation or a scenario with very low risk. It refers to a circumstance where the gain is tangible if successful, but the loss is negligible if it fails. It is used when someone takes a chance where they have almost nothing to lose but something to gain.
ఓడ ఎక్కేదాకా ఓడ మల్లన్న, ఓడ దిగాక బోడి మల్లన్న
oda ekkedaka oda mallanna, oda digaka bodi mallanna
Until boarding the boat he is 'Oda Mallanna' (respected), once off the boat he is 'Bodi Mallanna' (bald/useless).
This expression describes people who act with great respect and humility toward someone only as long as they need a favor. Once their purpose is served and they no longer need that person's help, they treat them with indifference or contempt. It is used to highlight human ingratitude and opportunism.
అందరికీ అట్ట పండగ, మనకు ముట్ట సండగ
andariki atta pandaga, manaku mutta sandaga
For everyone it is a festival of pancakes, for us it is a bundle of dry twigs.
This proverb describes a situation where everyone around is celebrating or enjoying prosperity while an individual or a specific family remains in poverty or misery. It highlights social inequality and the contrast between the haves and the have-nots during festive times.
కాస్త వోడంటే కంచమంతా వోడన్నట్లు
kasta vodante kanchamanta vodannatlu
When asked to leave a little space, asking for the whole plate.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone takes undue advantage of a small favor or permission granted to them. It is similar to the English expression 'Give them an inch and they'll take a mile.' It highlights the behavior of greedy or opportunistic people who overstep boundaries once they are given a slight opening.
వదులు వదులు అంటే కంచమంతా వడ్డించమన్నట్లు
vadulu vadulu ante kanchamanta vaddinchamannatlu
When asked to leave some, it's like asking to serve the whole plate.
This proverb is used to describe someone who takes undue advantage of a small concession or misunderstanding. It refers to a situation where a person interprets a request for a small amount of something as an invitation to take everything, often used in the context of greed or lack of common sense.
ఆడలేక మద్దెల ఓడన్నట్లు
adaleka maddela odannatlu
Like a woman who cannot dance saying the drum is crooked.
This proverb is used to describe a person who blames their tools, environment, or other people for their own lack of skill or failure. It is equivalent to the English idiom 'A bad workman always blames his tools.'
నది నాలుగామడల దూరంలో ఉండగానే, చీర విప్పి చేత్తో పట్టుకుందట
nadi nalugamadala duramlo undagane, chira vippi chetto pattukundata
The river was still four leagues away, but she already stripped and held her saree in her hand.
This expression is used to describe someone who acts prematurely or over-prepares for a situation long before it is necessary. It mocks excessive anxiety or unnecessary haste in anticipation of a future event.
గేదె ఉండగా, దూడ ఉండగా, గుంజకు వచ్చెరా గుబికవాయువు అన్నట్లు
gede undaga, duda undaga, gunjaku vachchera gubikavayuvu annatlu
While the buffalo is there and the calf is there, the pillar got the spasm.
This expression is used to describe a situation where a problem or symptom appears in an inanimate object or an unrelated third party instead of the actual person or source involved. It highlights the absurdity of blaming or finding faults in something that shouldn't be affected while the main actors are perfectly fine.