వెన్న దగ్గర ఉంచుకొని నేతికి తడుముకున్నట్లు
venna daggara unchukoni netiki tadumukunnatlu
Looking for ghi when you have got butter.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone searches for something they already possess or have easy access to. It highlights the foolishness of overlooking immediate resources while seeking their processed or final forms elsewhere.
Asking others to help you when you have all in your own power.
Related Phrases
చంకలో బిడ్డను ఉంచుకుని ఊరంతా వెతికినట్టు
chankalo biddanu unchukuni uranta vetikinattu
Like carrying the baby in one's arms and searching the whole village for it.
This proverb describes a situation where someone searches everywhere for something they already possess or which is right with them. It is used to mock absent-mindedness or the tendency to overlook the obvious while seeking solutions far away.
స్వర్ణం దగ్గరుంచుకొని బంగారం వెతికినట్టు.
svarnam daggarunchukoni bangaram vetikinattu.
Like searching for gold while already possessing it.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone overlooks a valuable resource or solution they already possess and goes searching for it elsewhere. It highlights human nature's tendency to ignore the obvious or the available while yearning for the same thing from external sources.
ఏడ్చి తద్దినం పెట్టించుకున్నట్లు
edchi taddinam pettinchukunnatlu
Like crying and getting a death anniversary performed.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone performs a task or fulfills an obligation with great reluctance, lack of interest, or while complaining, rather than doing it willingly or happily. It implies that the person is doing something just for the sake of finishing it, often ruining the spirit of the activity.
వెన్న చేత పట్టుకొని నేతికి వెతికినట్లు
venna cheta pattukoni netiki vetikinatlu
Like holding butter in one's hand and searching for ghee.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone searches for something everywhere else, while they already possess the source or the solution right in their hand. It highlights a lack of common sense or awareness about one's own resources, as ghee is simply clarified butter.
అమ్మదగ్గర కింద పడుకున్నా ఒకటే, అబ్బదగ్గర నేల పడుకున్నా ఒకటే.
ammadaggara kinda padukunna okate, abbadaggara nela padukunna okate.
It is all one whether [the child] sleep on the ground with its mother, or on the floor with its father.
This proverb describes a situation where there is no real choice because all available options lead to the same result. It is used when someone is presented with alternatives that offer no actual difference in benefit or quality, implying that the outcome remains equally poor or unchanged regardless of the path chosen.
Equally bad. Where bad is the best, naught must be the choice. Whatever way you take there is a league of bad road. (Spanish.)*
చెట్టుకొట్టి పైకి తెచ్చుకున్నట్టు
chettukotti paiki techchukunnattu
Cutting a tree and letting it fall on one's self. Bringing trouble on one's own head. The fool hunts for misfortune. (French.)
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone's own actions or attempts to solve a problem backfire, causing them self-inflicted harm or trouble. It is similar to the English idiom 'to dig one's own grave' or 'to shoot oneself in the foot'.
* Plega l'albero quando à giovane. † Gammel Green bryder nær den skal boles. Le fou cherche son malheur.
అరచేత వెన్న పెట్టుకొని నేతికి ఏడ్చినట్టు
aracheta venna pettukoni netiki edchinattu
Like a man with butter in the palm of his hand, calling out for ghi.
This proverb is used to describe a person who searches for something everywhere when it is already within their possession or reach. It highlights the irony of being unaware of the resources one already has while complaining about a lack of results (since ghee is made by melting butter).
ఒంటికి లేని వ్యాధి కొని తెచ్చుకున్నట్టు
ontiki leni vyadhi koni techchukunnattu
Like buying and bringing a disease with which the body is not troubled. Wilfully bringing trouble on one's self.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone unnecessarily invites trouble or creates a problem for themselves when things were perfectly fine before. It refers to self-inflicted complications or meddling in affairs that lead to unwanted stress.
అరచేత వెన్న పెట్టుకొని, నేతికి ఏడ్చినట్లు
aracheta venna pettukoni, netiki edchinatlu
Holding butter in the palm, yet crying for ghee.
This expression describes a situation where someone overlooks a solution or resource they already possess while desperately searching for it elsewhere. It is used to point out the foolishness of not realizing that the goal is already within reach, as butter is the source of ghee.
తద్దినము కొని తెచ్చుకొన్నట్టు.
taddinamu koni techchukonnattu.
Buying a Taddinam. Bringing difficulties upon one's own head.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone voluntarily invites trouble or creates a headache for themselves by their own actions or choices. It is similar to the English expression 'to go looking for trouble' or 'asking for it.'
* Alterâ manu scabunt, altera ferunt.