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.
Related Phrases
నమ్మితి రామన్నా అంటే, నా అంతవాణ్ని చేస్తానన్నట్టు.
nammiti ramanna ante, na antavanni chestanannattu.
When a man expressed his trust in Râmanna, the latter promised to make him as great a man as himself. Râmanna was really a beggar though pretending to be a great man.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone's trust or reliance on another person results in them being dragged down to that person's level of misfortune or mediocrity. It warns about trusting people who are in a bad state themselves, as they might end up making your situation as bad as theirs.
కాదు కాదు అంటే నాది నాది అన్నాడట.
kadu kadu ante nadi nadi annadata.
When one said "Kādu, Kādu" the other said "Nādi, Nādi."
This proverb describes a situation where someone persistently tries to claim ownership or credit for something even after being explicitly told it doesn't belong to them or is incorrect. It is used to mock people who are shamelessly stubborn or opportunistic despite being rejected.
Kādu in Telugu means " it is not," "no;" in Tamil it signifies " the ear." A Telugu man on one occasion accidentally stuck the barb of his spear into a Tamilian's ear, on which the latter cried out "Kādu! Kādu!" ( My ear! my ear! ) The Telugu man thinking he meant to say " Not yours, not yours" pulled at the spear all the harder, saying "Nādi! Nādi!" (It's mine! it's mine!). Said to a man who is obstinate in argument.
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.
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.
ఏమిరా కోటా అంటే ఎప్పటిదే ఆట అన్నాడట
emira kota ante eppatide ata annadata
When asked 'What's the status, Kota?', he replied 'The same old game'.
This proverb is used to describe a situation or a person that never changes despite the passage of time or changing circumstances. It signifies stagnation, a lack of progress, or someone sticking to their old, often repetitive or unproductive ways.
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.
అల్లుడా ఎప్పుడు వచ్చావంటే, రాత్రి వండిన గారెల సంగతి చెప్పనా అన్నాడట.
alluda eppudu vachchavante, ratri vandina garela sangati cheppana annadata.
When asked 'Son-in-law, when did you arrive?', he replied 'Shall I tell you about the Vadas cooked last night?'
This proverb is used to describe someone who inadvertently reveals a secret or exposes their own guilt while trying to answer a simple question. It refers to a situation where a person's guilty conscience or preoccupation with a hidden act leads them to give an irrelevant, self-incriminating answer.
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.