వేగి వేగనమ్మ వేకువ ఝామున ముట్టయితే తెలివిగలమ్మ తెల్లవారు ఝామున ముట్టయిందట
vegi veganamma vekuva jhamuna muttayite telivigalamma tellavaru jhamuna muttayindata
When the impatient woman reached puberty at dawn, the clever woman claimed she reached puberty at sunrise.
This proverb is used to mock people who try to one-up others or claim superior status over something common or inevitable. It describes a situation where one person tries to appear more special or 'advanced' than someone else by making a trivial distinction, even when both are in the same situation.
Related Phrases
తేలుకు పెత్తనం ఇస్తే, తెల్లవార్లు తెగకుట్టిందట!
teluku pettanam iste, tellavarlu tegakuttindata!
If a scorpion is given authority, it will sting relentlessly all night long!
This proverb is used to describe the consequences of giving power to a cruel or incompetent person. Just as a scorpion's nature is to sting, a malicious person will misuse their newfound authority to harass others or cause harm without restraint.
ముండ కాదు, ముత్తయిదువ కాదు
munda kadu, muttayiduva kadu
Neither a widow, nor a married woman. Said by a man kept in suspense, neither granted nor refused a request, and not knowing whether he was to be as fortunate as a married woman or as unfortunate as a widow.
This expression is used to describe someone or something that is in an ambiguous or uncertain state, belonging to neither of two distinct categories. It often refers to a person who lacks a clear identity or a situation that remains unresolved and 'in-between.'
ఒక కలగనగానే తెల్లవారుతుందా?
oka kalaganagane tellavarutunda?
Will the morning dawn after dreaming one dream ? After one trouble, think not that you have passed through all.
This expression is used to remind someone that big achievements or goals cannot be reached overnight with just one thought or effort. It emphasizes that success requires consistent hard work and persistence over time, rather than expecting immediate results from a single attempt or vision.
మూడు నాళ్ల ముత్తయిదువతనానికి ఆరు జోళ్ల లక్క ఆకులా?
mudu nalla muttayiduvatananiki aru jolla lakka akula?
Are three pairs of leaf-earrings [ wanted ] for three days of wedlock ? Earrings of palm leaves, coloured with lac are worn by brides. Said of an unfortunate young widow.
This proverb is used to criticize someone who makes excessive, unnecessary preparations or investments for a very short-term or temporary situation. It highlights the disproportion between the effort/cost and the actual duration or value of the event.
ఎల్లవారమ్మల బ్రతుకు తెల్లవారితే తెలుస్తుంది.
ellavarammala bratuku tellavarite telustundi.
When it dawns, we shall know whose mother is alive. Said by a man to his wife, at whose instigation he had agreed that they should kill his mother. The mothers of the pair slept together and the wife's mother was murdered instead of the husband's, with the latter's knowledge. The wife, having an inkling of the truth, endeavoured to per- suade her husband to go and see which of the two they had spared, and he replied as above.
This proverb implies that the true state or reality of a situation (or someone's life) is revealed when the light of day comes or when the time is right. It is used to suggest that secrets or hidden struggles cannot stay hidden forever and the truth will eventually come to light.
* Απλησιος πίθος.
వేగీవేగనమ్మ వేకువజామున ముట్టయితే, తెలివిగలమ్మ తెల్లవారుజామున ముట్టయిందట.
vegiveganamma vekuvajamuna muttayite, telivigalamma tellavarujamuna muttayindata.
If the hasty woman reached her goal at dawn, the clever woman reached it at daybreak.
This proverb is a sarcastic take on people who think they are being smart but end up doing the same thing as others, or even performing worse while pretending to be superior. It mocks a situation where one person tries to outdo another's 'early' or 'fast' action with a supposedly better version that is essentially the same or later, highlighting a lack of real difference despite the boastful attitude.
ఆరు ఆవులమ్మ మూడు ఆవులమ్మ ఇంటికి నేతికి వెళ్ళిందట
aru avulamma mudu avulamma intiki netiki vellindata
A woman with six cows went to the house of a woman with three cows to borrow ghee.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is seemingly well-off or resourceful seeks help from someone who has much less than them. It highlights irony, poor management, or the hypocrisy of those who possess plenty but still rely on others.
ఎల్లమ్మ బ్రతుకు తెల్లవారితే తెలుస్తుంది
ellamma bratuku tellavarite telustundi
Ellamma's life (or fate) will be known once the day breaks.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the true outcome or the reality of a person's condition will only be revealed after a period of time or once a specific event concludes. It implies that current appearances might be deceptive and the final truth will come to light eventually.
కాసుగలమ్మ కట్టావిప్పా వీసంగలమ్మ విడవా మడవా
kasugalamma kattavippa visangalamma vidava madava
The woman with gold won't untie her bundle; the woman with a small coin won't stop folding and unfolding hers.
This proverb highlights human behavior regarding wealth. A truly wealthy person stays calm and doesn't show off, whereas a person with very little wealth constantly fusses over it and displays it to everyone to feel important.
తెలివిగలిగిన పెండ్లాం తెల్లవారిన తరువాత పడుకుందట
telivigaligina pendlam tellavarina taruvata padukundata
The clever wife supposedly went to sleep after daybreak.
This is a sarcastic proverb used to mock people who claim to be very intelligent or efficient but actually make poor decisions or fail at basic time management. It describes a situation where someone works at the wrong time or stays up all night unnecessarily, only to sleep when the work day begins.