వీసంగల అమ్మి విడువా ముడువా, కాసుగల అమ్మి కట్టాపెట్టా
visangala ammi viduva muduva, kasugala ammi kattapetta
A woman with a 'veesam' keeps untying and tying her money; a woman with a 'kasu' just packs it away.
This proverb contrasts the behavior of those with small means versus those with significant wealth. A 'veesam' is a tiny denomination; someone possessing very little is often anxious, constantly counting or checking their small pittance. In contrast, someone with a 'kasu' (larger wealth) is secure enough to store it away without constant fuss. It is used to describe how people with little knowledge or money tend to make more of a show or worry excessively compared to those who are truly substantial.
Related Phrases
వీసముగల రెడ్డికి విడవా ముడవా సరి.
visamugala reddiki vidava mudava sari.
The time of a rich Reddi is taken up in untying and tying [ his purse ].
This proverb describes a person who possesses a very small amount of money or resources but acts excessively busy or important. It is used to mock someone who makes a big fuss over trivial possessions or spends all their time obsessing over a tiny asset as if it were a fortune.
గంధము అమ్మిన చోట కట్టెలు అమ్మినట్టు.
gandhamu ammina chota kattelu amminattu.
Like selling firewood where sandal had been sold. Said of the ruin of what once was beautiful.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone or something has lost its former glory, dignity, or high status. It refers to a decline in quality or a person resorting to menial tasks after having held a prestigious position.
చాకలి అత్త, మంగలి మామ
chakali atta, mangali mama
A washerwoman of a mother-in-law, a barber of a father- in-law. A man abusing his wife's parents.
This expression is used to describe a situation where an individual is surrounded by people who are constantly gossiping or leaking secrets. In traditional village settings, the washerman (Chakali) and the barber (Mangali) visited every household and were known to be the primary sources of local news and gossip. Having them as close relatives implies that one's private matters will never remain secret and will be broadcast to the entire community.
పూవులమ్మిన అంగడిలోనే కట్టెలు అమ్మినట్లు
puvulammina angadilone kattelu amminatlu
Like selling firewood in the same shop where flowers were once sold.
This expression describes a situation where someone who once lived a dignified or prosperous life has now fallen into a lowly or difficult state. It refers to a significant decline in status, quality, or circumstances, comparing the fragrance and beauty of flowers to the ruggedness and toil associated with selling firewood.
చెంబు అమ్మి తపేలా, తపేలా అమ్మి చెంబు
chembu ammi tapela, tapela ammi chembu
Selling a small vessel to buy a large pot, and selling the large pot to buy a small vessel.
This expression describes a situation where someone keeps making lateral or circular changes without any actual progress or profit. It is used to mock a person who engages in futile transactions or decisions that lead back to the starting point, often losing money or time in the process.
పాతిక గల అమ్మకు పాతిపెట్ట లేవదీయ
patika gala ammaku patipetta levadiya
For a mother who has twenty-five, there is no one to bury or lift her.
This proverb describes a situation where someone who has many children or resources still ends up neglected in their time of need. It highlights the irony that having many people to depend on often leads to a lack of individual responsibility, as each person assumes someone else will take care of the task.
కంచం అమ్మి మెట్టులు కొన్నట్లు
kancham ammi mettulu konnatlu
Like selling the plate to buy anklets.
This proverb describes a situation where someone sacrifices a basic necessity or a useful tool for a luxury or a useless ornament. It refers to poor financial judgment or misplaced priorities, specifically trading something essential for survival for something that is merely for show.
నేర్పుగల అమ్మ నేతితో అరిసెలు వండితే, ఓర్పుగల అమ్మ ఒళ్లో కట్టుకుపోయిందట
nerpugala amma netito ariselu vandite, orpugala amma ollo kattukupoyindata
When the clever lady had fried the cakes in Ghî, the patient lady walked off with them in her lap.
This proverb highlights that while skill and hard work are important for creation, patience and persistence are often what reap the final rewards. It is used to describe situations where someone else takes the benefit of another person's hard work because the latter lacked the patience or foresight to secure the results.
Atirasam is a sweet cake made of rice meal and syrup and fried, or rather boiled, in ghi. A cool trick.
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.
కంచము అమ్మి మెట్టెలు కొన్నట్టు
kanchamu ammi mettelu konnattu
Selling the dish and buying toe-rings. He has given the hen for the egg. (German.)
This proverb is used to describe a person who makes a foolish trade-off by giving up something essential or useful for something ornamental or trivial. It refers to misplaced priorities where one sacrifices a basic necessity (a plate for food) for a luxury or a decorative item (toe-rings).