అత్త సిరి చూసుకొని కోడలు మడిమలు తొక్కిందట

atta siri chusukoni kodalu madimalu tokkindata

Translation

Seeing the mother-in-law's wealth, the daughter-in-law walked on her heels.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a person who acts arrogant or spends extravagantly based on someone else's wealth or status, rather than their own. It highlights misplaced pride or dependency on another person's fortune.

Related Phrases

Like a blind man stepping on wet dung floor-wash.

This expression describes a situation where someone performs a task haphazardly, clumsily, or without any sense of direction or awareness. It is used when someone's actions are messy and lack the precision or skill required for the job.

Relying on her younger sister's husband, she held her hand pompously.

This proverb is used to criticize someone who acts arrogantly, lives extravagantly, or shows false pride based on the wealth and status of a relative (specifically a brother-in-law) rather than their own capability. It implies that their confidence is misplaced and dependent on someone else.

The fire in the stomach is an invisible fire.

This expression refers to internal suffering, deep grief, or hidden jealousy that others cannot see. While physical fires are visible, the 'burning' one feels due to hunger, emotional pain, or envy is hidden from the world but deeply felt by the individual.

Open your eyes wide before marriage, but after marriage, keep them half-closed and act as if you see but don't see.

This proverb advises individuals to be extremely cautious and observant while choosing a life partner. However, once married, it suggests that one should be tolerant and overlook minor faults or imperfections in their spouse to maintain a harmonious and happy relationship.

The word of a husband who has no control is like the sting of a red ant.

This proverb describes a situation where a person's words or threats have no real impact or authority. Just as a red ant's sting causes temporary irritation but no lasting harm, the words of someone who lacks discipline, consistency, or power are ignored or dismissed by others as insignificant.

Is it enough to just look at your armpits and feel happy? Look at the road ahead, he said.

This expression is used to caution someone who is overly confident or celebrating a small success without considering the future challenges or the difficult journey ahead. It highlights the foolishness of being self-satisfied while ignoring upcoming obstacles.

Like a cobra whose tail has been stepped on

This expression is used to describe someone who becomes extremely furious, aggressive, or reacts with intense anger when provoked. Just as a cobra strikes back instantly and fiercely when its tail is trodden upon, this phrase characterizes a person's sudden and violent retaliation to an insult or injury.

Idle Maachakamma supposedly milked a cat.

This proverb is used to describe someone who, out of boredom or lack of productive work, engages in useless, absurd, or counterproductive activities. It highlights how an idle mind can lead to wasting time on impossible or foolish tasks.

You can ignite a fire, but you cannot change a fool.

This expression is used to highlight the extreme difficulty or impossibility of changing a stubborn or foolish person's mind or behavior. It suggests that even performing a difficult physical task like controlling fire is easier than reasoning with someone who lacks wisdom or is unwilling to learn.

Like a monkey that stepped on hot embers

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely restless, agitated, or reacting with sudden, frantic movement. It depicts a state of high distress or panicked jumping around, similar to how a monkey would behave if it accidentally stepped on fire.