Irony
సత్రం కూటికి అయ్యగారి ఆజ్ఞ
satram kutiki ayyagari ajnya
The master's permission for the free food at a shelter
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone acts as if they have authority over things that are free or do not belong to them. It mocks people who unnecessarily try to control or dictate terms in matters where they have no personal stake or ownership.
మన్ను పట్టితే బంగారం, బంగారం పట్టితే మన్ను
mannu pattite bangaram, bangaram pattite mannu
Touching mud turns it into gold, touching gold turns it into mud
This proverb describes the extremes of luck or fortune. It refers to a person's current 'luck streak'—when someone is highly successful, even their smallest efforts (mud) yield great results (gold). Conversely, when someone is going through a period of extreme misfortune, even their most valuable assets or best efforts fail miserably.
నంబి కవిత్వం, తంబళ్ళ జోస్యం
nambi kavitvam, tamballa josyam
The Nambi's poetry and the Thamballa's astrology.
This proverb is used to describe work that is of poor quality, unreliable, or amateurish. It refers to people attempting tasks for which they lack true expertise, resulting in something mediocre or untrustworthy. It is often used to mock someone's superficial skills.
కాదంటే అరవవాడి చెవి
kadante aravavadi chevi
If you say Kādu, it is a Tamilian's ear.
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely stubborn or completely ignores a refusal or a 'no'. It suggests that no matter how much you deny or refuse, the person remains unaffected and continues to behave as they please, much like an old stereotype of someone pretending not to hear or understand.
కాసుకు గతిలేదు, కోటికి కొడి వేసినాడు.
kasuku gatiledu, kotiki kodi vesinadu.
He was without a cash, but raised his banner for a crore.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks even the most basic resources or money but makes grand, boastful claims or undertakes projects far beyond their means. It highlights the irony of having big aspirations or showing off when one cannot even afford the bare minimum.
A cash ( Kāsu ) equals about one fortieth of a penny. Penniless, but bragging of having a plum.
పేనేమెరుగును పెడతల కండూతి
penemerugunu pedatala kanduti
What does a louse know about the itching at the back of the head?
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the person causing a problem is completely unaware or indifferent to the suffering they are causing. Just as a louse living on a head doesn't care about the irritation it causes the person, an insensitive person doesn't understand the pain their actions inflict on others.
గానుగాపే, గానుగాపే, నీవు కూర్చున్న పనేగా నూనెపోయడం
ganugape, ganugape, nivu kurchunna panega nunepoyadam
Oil presser, oil presser, the very job you are sitting for is to pour oil.
This expression is used when someone is reluctant or complaining about doing their primary duty or the very task they were hired or expected to do. It highlights the irony of someone hesitating to perform their core responsibility.
అత్తకి అట్లతద్ది సరదా! కోడలికి కోటప్పకొండ సరదా!
attaki atlataddi sarada! kodaliki kotappakonda sarada!
The mother-in-law is interested in the Atlataddi festival! The daughter-in-law is interested in the Kotappakonda fair!
This proverb is used to describe a situation where two people have completely different interests, priorities, or desires that do not align with each other. It highlights the lack of common ground or the pursuit of individual whims despite being in the same household or situation.
ముల్లాలు తిండికి లేక మొత్తుకొంటూ ఉంటే, పీర్లకు పంచదార.
mullalu tindiki leka mottukontu unte, pirlaku panchadara.
While their priests are starving, [the Mussalmans] give sugar [in honor of] their standards. Pirs or Alams are representations of the standards of Ali and Husain set up during the Muharram festival.
This proverb describes a situation where those who are doing the actual work or are in genuine need are neglected, while unnecessary resources are spent on rituals or symbolic objects. It is used to criticize irony in management or charity where the living/deserving are ignored in favor of the inanimate or superficial.
Caring for the dead and neglecting the living.
ముగ్గురు మూడు లోకాలయితే, ముసలిది యమలోకం
mugguru mudu lokalayite, musalidi yamalokam
If three people are in three different worlds, the old woman is in the world of Yama (underworld).
This proverb describes a situation where there is a total lack of coordination or unity among a group of people. It is used when every individual in a group is acting according to their own whims and fancies, with the most difficult or stubborn person causing the most trouble or being completely out of sync with the rest.
మునుపు చెడ్డ ముత్తైదువ గరిగబుడ్డి సరిగా పెట్టు అన్నదట
munupu chedda muttaiduva garigabuddi sariga pettu annadata
The woman who was already ruined asked for the sacred pot to be placed correctly.
This proverb describes a situation where someone who has already caused major damage or failed completely starts worrying about trivial, insignificant details. It is used to mock people who focus on minor etiquette or perfectionism after a major disaster has already occurred due to their own fault.
సన్యాసి పెళ్ళికి జుట్టు దగ్గర నుంచి ఎరవే
sanyasi pelliki juttu daggara nunchi erave
From the hair itself, everything is borrowed for a monk's wedding.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone attempts to do something without having any necessary resources of their own, relying entirely on others or borrowed items from start to finish. Since a monk (sanyasi) has a shaved head, even the hair for a wedding makeover would need to be borrowed/arranged, symbolizing total lack of preparation or ownership.
కాలి దూరం వేరు కంటి దూరం వేరు
kali duram veru kanti duram veru
The distance of the foot is different, the distance of the eye is different.
This proverb highlights the difference between seeing a destination and actually reaching it. While an object or place might look close to the eyes, the physical effort and distance required to walk there can be significant. It is used to caution someone that planning or visualizing a task is much easier than the actual physical execution of it.
మా పిల్లవానికి ముప్ఫయిరెండు గుణములు వున్నవిగాని, రెండు మాత్రము తక్కువ.
ma pillavaniki mupphayirendu gunamulu vunnavigani, rendu matramu takkuva.
My boy has the thirty-two qualities, only he is two short.
This is a sarcastic expression used to mock someone's complete lack of good character. While it starts as a compliment (32 qualities signify perfection), the 'two missing' qualities are 'Sathyam' (Truth) and 'Shaucham' (Purity/Cleanliness), implying the person is a liar and a scoundrel.
* Continuanza diventa usanza.
రోకటికి చిగురు పట్టినట్టు
rokatiki chiguru pattinattu
Like a rice pounder budding. Said of a hopelessly ignorant fellow.
This expression is used to describe something that is completely impossible, highly improbable, or a miracle. A dry, dead wooden pestle (rokali) can never grow new leaves or buds; therefore, it refers to situations where a hopeless cause suddenly shows life or an impossible task is claimed to be achieved.
మాటలచేత మహాకాళిని నవ్వించవచ్చు
matalacheta mahakalini navvinchavachchu
One can make Goddess Mahakali laugh with words.
This expression emphasizes the power of eloquence and persuasive communication. It implies that through skillful speech, wit, or clever storytelling, one can win over even the most fearsome, stern, or difficult people.
ముందు పెళ్ళాం బిడ్డలు ముంత ఎత్తుకుని తిరుగుతుంటే, లంజకు బిడ్డలు లేరని రామేశ్వరం పోయినట్టు
mundu pellam biddalu munta ettukuni tirugutunte, lanjaku biddalu lerani rameshvaram poyinattu
While his wife and children were wandering with begging bowls, he went to Rameshwaram praying for a concubine to have children.
This proverb describes a person who ignores their immediate and primary responsibilities (like taking care of their own family) to focus on unnecessary, inappropriate, or secondary matters. It is used to mock someone's misplaced priorities and hypocrisy.
కుక్కలు మొరుగుతుంటాయి, ఏనుగు సాగిపోతూనే ఉంటుంది
kukkalu morugutuntayi, enugu sagipotune untundi
Dogs bark, but the elephant keeps walking.
This expression means that people will always criticize or gossip about those who are successful or moving forward. It suggests that one should ignore petty criticism and stay focused on their own path or goals. It is used to advise someone not to be distracted by the noise of detractors.
చమురు దండుగ భాగవతం
chamuru danduga bhagavatam
A Bhagavatam performance that is a waste of oil
This expression is used to describe an activity, project, or performance that is so poorly executed or ineffective that it doesn't even justify the basic cost of the resources consumed (like the oil used in lamps for light during an old-time play). It signifies a complete waste of time, effort, and resources.
అత్తకు తుత్తర తీరినట్లు అల్లుడు నేర్చుకొన్నట్లు
attaku tuttara tirinatlu alludu nerchukonnatlu
Like the mother-in-law's impatience being satisfied and the son-in-law learning.
This proverb describes a situation where a task is accomplished or a problem is solved through a mutual, albeit often imperfect or slow, process. It refers to a scenario where someone (the mother-in-law) is overly anxious for something to happen, and the other person (the son-in-law) eventually learns to do it, matching their pace or satisfying the demand just in time. It is often used to describe situations involving mutual adjustment or sarcastic commentary on someone finally learning something after much pestering.