అదేమి రెడ్డి వంగి వంగి నడుస్తావంటే, ఎప్పటికాల్లు అట్టెట్టే అన్నాడట
ademi reddi vangi vangi nadustavante, eppatikallu attette annadata
"What is it that makes you limp, Reddi?" asked one. "My old leg is the same as ever," he replied. Habit.
This proverb is used to describe a person who tries to hide their current weakness, failure, or physical decline by pretending it is their normal state or a long-standing habit. It mocks those who are too proud to admit they have changed for the worse or are struggling, choosing instead to offer silly excuses to maintain their ego.
Related Phrases
ఎనుము యీనినది రెడ్డి అంటే, నీకేమి కద్దే బొడ్డీ అన్నాడట.
enumu yininadi reddi ante, nikemi kadde boddi annadata.
When she said "O Reddi! your buffalo has calved," he replied "O Boddi! what's that to you?" The woman wanted some milk.
This proverb is used to tell people to mind their own business or to highlight that a particular piece of news or event has no relevance or benefit to the person reacting to it. It mocks those who get unnecessarily excited or involved in matters that do not concern them.
నంగి వంగలు మేస్తే నారికేళాలు దూడ మేసినది అన్నాడట.
nangi vangalu meste narikelalu duda mesinadi annadata.
" When the Nangi ate up the brinjals, the calf ate up the cocoanuts" said he. A certain Śūdra named Vēṇu before going on a pilgrimage delivered over charge of his brinjal garden to a Komati called Kustumbha. When he returned and applied for his garden his friend told him that the Nangi had eaten up all the brinjals. Vēṇu knew that no such animal existed, but remained quiet and waited his opportunity to pay off the Kōmati. Shortly afterwards Kustumbha required a man to watch his cocoanut garden and engaged Vēṇu for this work. The Śūdra sold all the cocoa- nuts and appropriated the proceeds. On being questioned by the Komati, Vēṇu told him that the calf had eaten all the cocoanuts. "How is that?" asked Kustumbha, "How could it reach them?" "Oh" replied Vēṇu "When the Nangi ate the brinjals could not the calf eat the cocoanuts?" The Komati, knowing his own dishonesty, could give no answer.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone exaggerates a simple fact into something impossible or absurd. It highlights how rumors or stories grow wildly out of proportion as they are passed along, or how someone tries to cover up a small truth with a massive lie.
వనవాసం చేయలేరు, వంగి వంగి తిరుగలేరు
vanavasam cheyaleru, vangi vangi tirugaleru
They cannot live in the forest, and they cannot stoop down and move around.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is extremely picky or demanding. It refers to someone who is unwilling to endure hardships (the forest life) but also refuses to humble themselves or work hard in a civilized society (bowing down). It characterizes someone who finds fault in every situation and lacks the flexibility to adapt.
నంగీ నమలక మింగవే అంటే, ఉడికిన చేపలు కరుస్తవి అన్నదట.
nangi namalaka mingave ante, udikina chepalu karustavi annadata.
When a simpleton was told to swallow without chewing, she said the boiled fish might bite.
This proverb is used to describe people who act overly innocent or fake naivety to avoid work or to make excuses. It mocks someone who pretends to be so simple-minded that they fear impossible things (like a cooked fish biting) just to be difficult or to gain sympathy.
వంగిన వాని కింద మరీ వంగితే, పట్టెడలు తగులుతాయి.
vangina vani kinda mari vangite, pattedalu tagulutayi.
If you bend even lower under someone who is already bent, your joints will be hit.
This proverb warns against excessive submissiveness or trying to be overly humble with someone who is already yielding. It implies that being too accommodating or sycophantic can lead to unnecessary trouble or physical/metaphorical injury. It is used to advise people to maintain their dignity and boundaries.
అదేమిటి రెడ్డీ, వంగివంగి నడుస్తావంటే, ఎప్పటికాల్లో అన్నాడట.
ademiti reddi, vangivangi nadustavante, eppatikallo annadata.
When asked, 'Why are you walking so bent, Reddy?', he replied, 'It is an old habit (of this leg).'
This proverb is used to describe someone who tries to hide their current weakness, failure, or decline by pretending it is an old habit or a choice. It mocks people who give silly excuses to cover up their present helpless situation or mistakes rather than admitting the truth.
చెట్టు అయి వంగనిది మాను అయి వంగునా?
chettu ayi vanganidi manu ayi vanguna?
If a tree won't bend when it is young, will it bend when it is full grown ? If a man is not humble in his youth, will he grow meek in his old age ? Bend the tree while it is young. (Italian.)* The old branch breaks if bent. (Danish.) "Bow down his neck while he is young." Ecclesiasticus xxx. 12.
This proverb emphasizes that habits, discipline, and character are best formed during childhood. If someone is not corrected or taught while they are young and flexible (like a sapling), they will become rigid and impossible to change once they grow older (like a sturdy tree). It is often used to stress the importance of early education and parenting.
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.
నంగీ నమలక మింగవే అంటే, ఉడికిన చేపలు కరుస్తవి అన్నదట
nangi namalaka mingave ante, udikina chepalu karustavi annadata
"Swallow without chewing, Nangi."—"The boiled fish are biting me" she replied.
This proverb describes a person who pretends to be overly innocent, shy, or delicate to avoid work or to hide their true nature. It is used to mock someone who makes ridiculous, impossible excuses to act helpless (like claiming cooked/dead fish can bite) while trying to maintain a facade of extreme modesty or naivety.
Nangi is a name given to a woman who is never at a loss for an excuse however paltry.
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.