వెట్టిగదరా పోలా అంటే, యేడవక తీరదే అయ్యా అన్నాడట.
vettigadara pola ante, yedavaka tirade ayya annadata.
When one said " O Pôla! is it not work without pay ?" he replied " Alas! Sir, there is no way to get out of it." Said of any disagreeable duty, which must be performed without remuneration. To have nothing but one's labour for one's pains. Like the tailor who sewed for nothing and found thread himself. Better sit idle than work for nought.
This expression describes a situation where someone is forced to do a difficult or unrewarding task against their will. It highlights the helplessness of an individual who must comply with an order even when they are miserable doing it. It is used to mock or point out a situation where work is done out of pure obligation without any joy or benefit.
Related Phrases
మెత్తనిమాట లాడరా అంటే, దూది వెన్నపూస అన్నాడట.
mettanimata ladara ante, dudi vennapusa annadata.
When asked to speak soft words, he said 'cotton and butter'.
This proverb is used to mock someone who lacks common sense or social intelligence. It describes a person who takes a metaphorical instruction literally and responds in a silly or irrelevant way. It highlights the difference between being 'gentle/polite' (soft words) and literally naming 'soft objects'.
బడాయి బావగారూ అంటే, ఏమే గుడ్డికంటి మరదలా అన్నాడట
badayi bavagaru ante, eme guddikanti maradala annadata
When a woman said "O conceited brother-in-law," he answered "Well, one eyed sister-in-law."
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is criticized for their flaws or arrogance immediately retaliates by pointing out a bigger or equally hurtful flaw in the critic. It highlights a cycle of mutual insults or a situation where a person with faults tries to silence another person's valid observation with rudeness.
బడాయి ఏమిర అన్నయ్యా అంటే పైసా లేదుర తమ్మయ్యా అన్నాడట
badayi emira annayya ante paisa ledura tammayya annadata
When asked 'What is with this showing off, brother?', he replied 'I don't have a single paisa, younger brother.'
This proverb is used to mock people who boast or show off their status and lifestyle while actually being broke or having no resources. It highlights the irony of people maintaining a grand facade despite having an empty pocket.
వీపు గుద్దరా శిష్యా అంటే, నీకంటే తక్కువ తిన్నదెవరు అన్నాడట.
vipu guddara shishya ante, nikante takkuva tinnadevaru annadata.
When told 'punch my back, disciple', he replied 'who ate less than you?'.
This proverb describes a situation where someone gives a nonsensical or irrelevant reply to a simple request, or avoids work by engaging in pointless flattery/argument. It is often used when a student or subordinate tries to be over-smart instead of doing the task assigned by their mentor.
ఎదట అన్నది మాట, యెదాన పెట్టింది వాత.
edata annadi mata, yedana pettindi vata.
Reprove a man to his face; brand a man on his chest. Don't abuse a man behind his back. He who praises in praesentia, and abuses in absentia, have with him pestilentia. (German.)
This proverb highlights the difference between casual verbal exchanges and the deep emotional impact of certain words. It suggests that while some comments are just spoken words, others can hurt deeply and leave a permanent scar on the soul, much like a physical branding.
'తూ' అంటే, బలా అన్నదంట
tu ante, bala annadanta
If one says 'Thoo' (spit/insult), the other said 'Bala' (excellent/good).
This proverb is used to describe a person who is shameless or lacks self-respect. It refers to someone who takes an insult or a criticism as a compliment, often due to thick-skinned behavior or a refusal to acknowledge their mistakes.
మీసాలెందుకు రాలేదురా అంటే మేనత్త పోలిక అని, గడ్డం వచ్చిందేమిరా అంటే అది మేనమామ పోలిక అన్నాడట.
misalenduku raledura ante menatta polika ani, gaddam vachchindemira ante adi menamama polika annadata.
When asked why he had no mustache, he said he resembles his paternal aunt; when asked why he had a beard, he said he resembles his maternal uncle.
This proverb is used to describe a person who gives silly, illogical, or contradictory excuses to cover up their flaws or inconsistencies. It points out the absurdity of someone who tries to justify everything with convenient but nonsensical reasoning.
చదువకముందు వరవర అంటే, చదివిన వెనుక వడవడ అన్నాడట.
chaduvakamundu varavara ante, chadivina venuka vadavada annadata.
Before studying he said 'Vara Vara', and after studying he said 'Vada Vada'.
This proverb is used to mock someone whose education or learning has not improved their wisdom or has actually made them more confused or foolish. It describes a situation where despite putting in the effort to learn, the person remains ignorant or produces nonsensical results, often misapplying their knowledge.
ఏమి పోలిశెట్టీ అంటే, యెప్పటి మొత్తుకోళ్లే అన్నాడట
emi polishetti ante, yeppati mottukolle annadata
When Pôlisetti was asked how he was getting on, he replied "I am in trouble as usual."
This proverb is used to describe a situation or a person that never changes despite the passage of time. It refers to people who are chronic complainers or situations where, no matter when you check in, the problems and grievances remain exactly the same as before.
ఎందుకు ఏడుస్తావురా పిల్లవాడా అంటే, ఎల్లుండి మావాళ్ళు కొడతారన్నాడట.
enduku edustavura pillavada ante, ellundi mavallu kodatarannadata.
A lad when asked " Why are you crying my boy ?" answered " They say my people are going to beat me the day after tomorrow."
This proverb is used to describe a person who worries or grieves unnecessarily about hypothetical future problems that haven't even happened yet. It highlights the absurdity of being anxious about potential future events while ignoring the present.
Anticipating evils. You cry out before you are hurt.