వట్టి చెయ్యి మూర వేస్తే, యేమి ఫలము?
vatti cheyyi mura veste, yemi phalamu?
If you measure cubits with an empty hand, what is the use of it? i. e. what is the use of measuring the air.
This proverb is used to point out the futility of performing actions on something that doesn't exist or has no substance. Just as measuring empty air with one's arm (a cubit) yields nothing, planning or calculating based on non-existent resources or empty promises is useless.
Vain hopes.
Related Phrases
మొండిచేతితో మూర వేసినట్లు
mondichetito mura vesinatlu
Like measuring a cubit with a stump of a hand.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone attempts to do something impossible or lacks the necessary tools/means to complete a task. It highlights the futility or inaccuracy of an action when the essential component required for success is missing.
మునిగిన వానికి చలియేమి గాలియేమి
munigina vaniki chaliyemi galiyemi
When a man plunges into the water does he care for cold or wind ? Overwhelmed with grief.
This proverb describes a situation where someone has already suffered the worst possible outcome or is deeply involved in a problem, so additional minor troubles no longer bother them. It is used when a person is past the point of worrying about consequences or further risks because they have already lost everything or are fully committed to a difficult path.
ఉత్త చేతులు మూర వేసినట్టు
utta chetulu mura vesinattu
Like measuring the air.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone makes grand plans or claims without having any resources, basis, or substance. It refers to the futility of trying to measure length (a cubit) when you have nothing to measure or no foundation to work from.
Idle dreams.
పొరుగింటి నెయ్యి, పెండ్లాము చెయ్యి
poruginti neyyi, pendlamu cheyyi
Neighbor's ghee, wife's hand.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is overly generous or extravagant because the resources being used do not belong to them. It implies that people tend to spend or give away others' wealth much more freely than they would their own.
కుడిచెయ్యి చేసే దానం ఎడమచెయ్యికి తెలియకూడదు
kudicheyyi chese danam edamacheyyiki teliyakudadu
The charity done by the right hand should not be known by the left hand.
This expression emphasizes the importance of anonymous or humble charity. It suggests that when you help someone, you should do it quietly without seeking fame, recognition, or boasting about your generosity to others.
వట్టి చేతులతో మూర వేసి ఏమి లాభం?
vatti chetulato mura vesi emi labham?
What is the use of measuring a cubit with empty hands?
This expression is used to highlight the pointlessness of making grand plans or promises when one lacks the necessary resources or substance to back them up. Just as measuring length with empty hands (without a physical object to measure) is a futile gesture, talking big without having anything to offer is useless.
మూడు మూరల ఒక చుట్టు, ముప్పై మూరల ఒక చుట్టు.
mudu murala oka chuttu, muppai murala oka chuttu.
Three cubits once round, thirty cubits once round [ the body ]. A woman on being given cloths of different lengths, complained in each case that the cloth would go only once round her body. Not to be satisfied.
This proverb refers to efficiency and laziness. It describes a situation where one person wraps a rope or cloth carefully in small, precise loops (three cubits), while another person, out of laziness or haste, wraps it in huge, messy loops (thirty cubits) just to finish the job quickly. It is used to criticize sloppy work done without attention to detail.
ఇది చలమో ఫలమో
idi chalamo phalamo
Is this done wantonly or with an object ?
This expression is used to describe a state of uncertainty about the outcome of a situation. It suggests that one doesn't know if a result will be positive or negative, or if a specific action will lead to success or failure. It is often used when embarking on a risky venture or waiting for a result that is out of one's hands.
మూటికీ ముడివేస్తే, యేమీ లేదు.
mutiki mudiveste, yemi ledu.
If you join the three, there's nothing. Various interpretations are given.—One is that a man devoid of pride, modesty, and shame, cares for nothing.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where, despite having multiple options or resources, they are all squandered or rendered useless by trying to combine them poorly or through bad management. It often refers to the three basic needs (food, clothing, shelter) or three specific opportunities that result in zero gain when handled incorrectly.
నీ ఎడమ చెయ్యి తీయి, నా పుర్ర చెయ్యి పెడతాను
ni edama cheyyi tiyi, na purra cheyyi pedatanu
Take away your left hand, I will use my sinister hand.
This expression is used to describe a redundant or meaningless action where one thing is replaced by something identical or equally ineffective. It highlights a situation where there is no real change or improvement despite the movement or effort, often used to mock someone suggesting a solution that is the same as the current problem.
As broad as long.