Arrogance
ఏటికాడ నక్కకు పాటిరేవేమి తెలుసు?
etikada nakkaku patirevemi telusu?
What does the fox at the river know about the proper laundry ghat?
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks specialized knowledge or discernment in a particular field, yet attempts to judge or involve themselves in it. Just as a fox roaming the riverbank cannot distinguish a specific washing area (ghat) from any other spot, an amateur cannot understand the nuances or value of professional work.
నడమంత్రపు సిరి, నరం మీది పుండు భరింపరానివి.
nadamantrapu siri, naram midi pundu bharimparanivi.
Wealth acquired in the middle of life and a sore on a nerve are unbearable.
This proverb is used to describe how sudden wealth can make a person arrogant and unbearable to others, just as a wound directly on a nerve causes intolerable physical pain. It highlights that people who gain status or riches overnight often lack the humility to handle it gracefully.
వాపు బలుపు కాదు, వాత అందము కాదు
vapu balupu kadu, vata andamu kadu
Swelling is not strength, and a branding scar is not beauty.
This proverb warns against mistaking unhealthy or artificial growth for true progress or strength. Just as swelling (edema) might make a limb look larger but actually indicates illness rather than muscle, superficial or temporary gains should not be confused with genuine success or health. It is used to caution people who are proud of hollow achievements.
గుడ్డు వచ్చి పిల్లను వెక్కిరించినట్లు.
guddu vachchi pillanu vekkirinchinatlu.
Like an egg heckling the young bird.
A young, inexperienced man ridiculing an elder one. It is better to learn to respect the elderly and experienced people, and, if possible, learn from their expertise gained over many years.
నడమంత్రపు వైష్ణవానికి నామాలు మెండు
nadamantrapu vaishnavaniki namalu mendu
A person who converts to Vaishnavism midway through life wears excessive religious marks.
This expression is used to describe someone who has recently acquired wealth, status, or a new belief and flaunts it excessively. It suggests that those who are 'new' to a position often show off more than those who have been in that position for a long time.
తిరిపపు మజ్జిగకు వచ్చి పాడిబర్రెను బేరము చేసినట్టు
tiripapu majjigaku vachchi padibarrenu beramu chesinattu
Like coming for a cup of buttermilk as charity and then trying to bargain for the milch buffalo.
This proverb is used to describe a person who asks for a small favor or a basic necessity and then oversteps their boundaries by trying to exert control or make demands on something much more valuable. It highlights audacity, greed, or the lack of propriety in a person who, while being a beggar or a seeker of help, starts acting like a patron or a boss.
కూడు ఎక్కువైతే కులమెక్కున
kudu ekkuvaite kulamekkuna
Does one's caste or status increase just because they have plenty of food?
This proverb is used to criticize those who become arrogant or forget their roots and humble beginnings once they achieve prosperity or wealth. It serves as a reminder that having excess resources (food/wealth) does not change one's fundamental identity or make them superior to others.
తానే తుమ్మి తానే శతాయుస్సు అనుకొన్నట్టు.
tane tummi tane shatayussu anukonnattu.
After sneezing he blessed himself saying "May you live a hundred years!"
This proverb describes a person who validates their own actions, praises themselves, or acts as their own judge without any external validation. It is used to mock people who are self-centered or those who create a problem and then provide the solution themselves to look good.
A joke. The blessing ought to come from another.
ఆచారి గుఱ్ఱం అతి పొగరు గుఱ్ఱం, గడ్డింత లేక ముడ్డంత ఎండె, ఆచార్యులవారిని మరి మోసి మోసి, వేంచేసెనయ్యా వైకుంఠపురికి.
achari gurram ati pogaru gurram, gaddinta leka muddanta ende, acharyulavarini mari mosi mosi, venchesenayya vaikunthapuriki.
The priest's horse was a very proud horse; with no grass to eat, its rump shriveled up; after carrying the priest for so long, it finally departed for heaven.
This humorous proverb or poem satirizes people who maintain a high sense of pride or status despite being in a state of extreme poverty or neglect. It specifically mocks the situation where someone is forced to serve a demanding master or maintain an appearance beyond their means until they eventually succumb to the hardship. It is used to describe situations where excessive ego or the burden of serving others leads to one's downfall.
నడమంత్రపు సిరి, నరాలమీది కురుపు
nadamantrapu siri, naralamidi kurupu
A fortune obtained in middle age is like a boil on the sinews. It spoils a man.
This proverb describes the behavior of people who suddenly acquire wealth (nouveau riche). Just as a boil on a nerve is extremely painful and sensitive to the touch, people who gain sudden fortune often become overly sensitive, arrogant, and difficult to deal with, as they do not know how to handle their new status gracefully.
రొయ్యగాడికి బారెడు మీసం, రోషగాడికి మూరెడు మీసం
royyagadiki baredu misam, roshagadiki muredu misam
The prawn has a fathom-long mustache, while the brave man has a cubit-long mustache.
This proverb is used to mock people who boast about their outward appearance or trivial attributes while lacking true character or courage. It highlights that physical features (like the long antennae of a prawn) do not signify merit or strength, as even a small creature can have longer 'whiskers' than a hero.
పుంగనూరు సంస్థానము
punganuru samsthanamu
Like the Punganūru state. Punganūru is in the North Arcot District. No government.
Historically referring to the Punganur Zamindari, this expression is used metaphorically in Telugu to describe a person's home or a specific place as if it were a grand, self-contained, or complex kingdom. It is often used sarcastically to mock someone who acts overly entitled or treats their small domain as a royal estate.
నానబెట్టిన నార తలకెక్కినట్లు
nanabettina nara talakekkinatlu
Like soaked fiber climbing onto the head
This expression refers to people who take advantage of kindness or proximity to become overly familiar, disrespectful, or dominant. It describes a situation where someone who was initially humble or in a subordinate position starts acting superior or bothersome once they are given some comfort or leeway.
చేతకానిమ్మకు శౌర్యమెక్కువ
chetakanimmaku shauryamekkuva
An incompetent woman shows excessive bravado.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks the actual skill or ability to perform a task but compensates for it by making loud boasts, showing unnecessary anger, or acting aggressively. It is similar to the English saying 'Empty vessels make the most noise'.
దొలుపుడు ముద్దకు నలుపుడు కారం
dolupudu muddaku nalupudu karam
Spicy chili paste for a scraped-out morsel of food.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person is extremely meticulous or demanding even when dealing with something very small, insignificant, or leftover. It highlights the tendency to fuss over trivial matters or to be overly particular about something that doesn't warrant such attention.
నడమంతరపు సిరిగాడు సింహాలబండి అడిగాడట
nadamantarapu sirigadu simhalabandi adigadata
A man who acquired sudden wealth asked for a chariot drawn by lions.
This proverb is used to describe the behavior of people who attain sudden, unexpected wealth or status and immediately start making arrogant, unrealistic, or extravagant demands. It highlights the lack of humility and common sense that often accompanies 'new money' or a sudden rise in social standing.
చీపురుకట్టకు సిరివస్తే, కోడిఈక గొడుగుపట్టెనట
chipurukattaku sirivaste, kodiika godugupattenata
If a broomstick attains wealth, a chicken feather will be held as its umbrella.
This proverb is used to mock people of low character or insignificant status who, upon suddenly acquiring wealth or power, begin to act with excessive vanity and put on ridiculous airs. It suggests that when someone unworthy becomes rich, their displays of status are equally absurd and cheap.
పట్టినవాడు మట్టగుడిసె అంటే, ఒడ్డున ఉన్నవాడు జెల్లపిల్ల అన్నట్లు
pattinavadu mattagudise ante, odduna unnavadu jellapilla annatlu
When the one who caught it says it's a loach, the one on the bank says it's a catfish.
This expression describes a situation where a person who has no firsthand experience or involvement in a task tries to correct or contradict the person who is actually doing the work. It is used to mock people who offer unsolicited and inaccurate advice from a safe distance without understanding the ground reality.
బడాయి బారెడు, పొగచుట్ట మూరెడు
badayi baredu, pogachutta muredu
His arrogance is two yards long and his cheroot a cubit long.
This proverb is used to describe people who boast excessively or put on great displays of grandeur despite having very humble or meager means. It highlights the disparity between one's empty talk (bragging) and their actual reality or substance.
నిట్టాడు తొక్కకు పిల్లా అంటే మా ఆయనకు నేను రెండో సంబంధం అన్నదట
nittadu tokkaku pilla ante ma ayanaku nenu rendo sambandham annadata
When told, 'Child, don't step on the threshold/pillar,' she replied, 'I am the second wife to my husband.'
This expression is used to describe a person who gives a completely irrelevant or out-of-context response to a simple instruction or advice. It highlights a situation where someone reveals unnecessary personal details or displays defensive vanity instead of just following a basic rule or suggestion.