ఆకలి వేస్తోంది అత్తగారా అంటే, రోకలి మింగవే కోడలా అన్నదట.
akali vestondi attagara ante, rokali mingave kodala annadata.
When the daughter-in-law said she was hungry, her mother- in-law told her to swallow the pestle.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone asks for a basic necessity or a small favor and receives a cruel, impossible, or mocking response instead of help. It highlights the lack of empathy or the hostile relationship between two people, often used to critique someone who gives heartless advice.
Rōkali is a wooden pestle, five or six feet long, used for pounding rice.
Related Phrases
గుడ్డి మామగారా నమస్కారమయ్యా అంటే, రంధికి మూలమా రంకుల కోడలా అన్నాడట
guddi mamagara namaskaramayya ante, randhiki mulama rankula kodala annadata
When she said " I salute you, O blind father-in-law!" he re- plied " Is this the commencement of strife ? O adulterous daughter-in-law!"
This proverb describes a situation where someone with a guilty conscience or an inferiority complex misinterprets a simple, respectful gesture or a factual observation as an insult. The father-in-law is sensitive about his blindness, so even a respectful greeting that acknowledges his state is taken as an offensive provocation.
Let him that has a glass skull not take to stone throwing. ( Italian. )*
బీచారాలు వేశాయి అత్తయ్యా అంటే పుడిసెడు వెనక్కుతీయవే కోడలా అన్నదట
bicharalu veshayi attayya ante pudisedu venakkutiyave kodala annadata
When the daughter-in-law said the crops have yielded seeds, the mother-in-law asked her to take a handful back.
This proverb is used to describe people who are extremely stingy or greedy. It depicts a situation where, instead of being happy about a harvest, a person immediately thinks of how to hoard or save even a tiny amount more, showing an obsessive level of frugality or selfishness.
బడాయి బావగారూ అంటే, ఏమే గుడ్డికంటి మరదలా అన్నాడట
badayi bavagaru ante, eme guddikanti maradala annadata
When a woman said "O conceited brother-in-law," he answered "Well, one eyed sister-in-law."
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is criticized for their flaws or arrogance immediately retaliates by pointing out a bigger or equally hurtful flaw in the critic. It highlights a cycle of mutual insults or a situation where a person with faults tries to silence another person's valid observation with rudeness.
అంబటి ఏరు వచ్చింది అత్తగారూ అంటే, కొలబుట్టి నా చేతిలోనే ఉన్నది కోడలా అన్నదట.
ambati eru vachchindi attagaru ante, kolabutti na chetilone unnadi kodala annadata.
When the daughter-in-law said 'A flood of porridge has arrived, mother-in-law!', the mother-in-law replied 'The measuring basket is still in my hand, daughter-in-law.'
This proverb highlights excessive control, stinginess, or a refusal to let go of authority even when there is an abundance of resources. It describes a situation where a person in power insists on rationing or strictly controlling something even when it is available in plenty, or simply asserts their dominance for the sake of it.
గొడ్డలి దెబ్బకు అన్నాడట
goddali debbaku annadata
He said 'brother' to the axe blow
This expression describes a situation where someone suddenly becomes humble, respectful, or starts calling an enemy 'brother' only when faced with an immediate, life-threatening danger or severe punishment. It is used to mock people who only show manners or submission when they are under duress.
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.
అంబటి ఏరు వచ్చినది అత్తగారూ అంటే, కొలబుర్ర నాచేతిలో ఉన్నది కోడలా అన్నదట
ambati eru vachchinadi attagaru ante, kolaburra nachetilo unnadi kodala annadata
"A river of porridge has come, mother-in-law!" she cried. "But I have the measure, daughter-in-law," replied the dame.
This proverb highlights a power struggle or an obsession with control within a household. It describes a situation where, despite an abundance of resources (a river of food), the person in authority (the mother-in-law) insists on strictly rationing it to maintain their dominance and ensure the other person remains dependent or restricted.
అగడపలు వేసినవి అత్తగారా అంటే, కొలబుర్ర నా చేతిలోనే ఉన్నది కోడలా అన్నదట.
agadapalu vesinavi attagara ante, kolaburra na chetilone unnadi kodala annadata.
"See! The signs of rain appear!" cried the daughter-in-law "What of that?" said the mother-in-law "I have the measure." (See, Nos. 19, 155.)
This proverb describes a situation where someone tries to hide their lack of progress or authority by asserting that they still hold the means of control. It is used to point out someone who is being evasive, lazy, or trying to maintain power without actually completing the task at hand.
ఆడపలు వేసినవి అత్తా అంటే, అట్లకు బియ్యం నానబొయ్యి కోడలా అన్నదట.
adapalu vesinavi atta ante, atlaku biyyam nanaboyyi kodala annadata.
When the daughter-in-law said the clouds had gathered, the mother-in-law told her to soak rice for crepes.
This proverb describes a situation where someone misinterprets a sign of trouble or a warning as a reason for celebration or greed. When the daughter-in-law warns of dark clouds (incoming rain/storm), the mother-in-law, thinking only of tasty food, asks to prepare for snacks. It is used to mock people who lack foresight or who are disconnected from reality due to their desires.
అగడపలు వేసినవి అత్తా అంటే, చేరెడు వెనక్కుకోడలా అన్నదట.
agadapalu vesinavi atta ante, cheredu venakkukodala annadata.
When the daughter-in-law said the boundary logs have been laid, the mother-in-law told her to move them back by a handful.
This proverb is used to describe a person (usually someone in authority) who gives unnecessary or contradictory advice just to show their dominance, even when the work done is perfectly fine. It highlights the tendency of some people to find faults or demand changes simply to exercise their power.