అరే గడ్డితినే కోమటీ అంటే, యేమోయి బెల్లంతినే సాయెబూ అన్నాడట; అట్లా అంటివేమి కోమటీ అంటే, అతనికి అది వాడుక నాకు యిదివాడుక అన్నాడట.
are gadditine komati ante, yemoyi bellantine sayebu annadata; atla antivemi komati ante, ataniki adi vaduka naku yidivaduka annadata.
"Hollow! grass-eating Kômati," said [ a Mussulman ], "Well! molasses-eating Śāhib," replied [ the shopkeeper ]: "How is it you speak in this way?" asked [ a bystander ], "He is accustomed to that and I to this," said [ the Kômati.] i. e. He meant to say that the Mussulman was accustomed to grass and he to molasses.
This proverb highlights that one's speech and behavior reflect their own character rather than the character of the person they are addressing. It suggests that even if someone insults you with low-class language, you should maintain your dignity and respond with courtesy, as your words define who you are.
Related Phrases
కొండను తవ్వి ఎలుకను పట్టినట్టు
kondanu tavvi elukanu pattinattu
Like digging up a mountain to catch a mouse
This expression is used to describe a situation where an enormous amount of effort, time, or resources are invested into a task, only to achieve a very small or insignificant result. It highlights the disproportion between the struggle and the outcome.
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.
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.
ఏకాదశి నాడు తల అంటుకుంటావేమి అంటే, అది నిత్య వ్రతము, నేడే ఆరంభించాను అన్నాడట; మరునాడు తల ఎందుకు అంటుకోలేదంటే నిన్నటితో వ్రతము సమాప్తి అయినది అన్నాడట.
ekadashi nadu tala antukuntavemi ante, adi nitya vratamu, nede arambhinchanu annadata; marunadu tala enduku antukoledante ninnatito vratamu samapti ayinadi annadata.
When asked why he was washing his hair on Ekadashi, he said it's a daily ritual he started today; when asked the next day why he wasn't washing it, he said the ritual ended yesterday.
This proverb is used to describe a lazy or hypocritical person who makes up convenient excuses on the spot to justify their actions. It mocks people who pretend to follow strict rules or vows only when it suits them, and immediately abandon them when it requires actual effort or consistency.
దొంగ చిక్కాడోయ్ అంటే, కరిచాడోయ్ అన్నాడట
donga chikkadoy ante, karichadoy annadata
When one cried out "I have got the thief" the other said "Take care! he'll bite." A cowardly fellow.
This proverb describes a situation where someone makes excuses to cover up their failure or inability to handle a task they committed to. It refers to a person who claims to have caught a thief but lets go because they got bit, highlighting a lack of determination or making weak excuses for losing an advantage.
ఏమోయీ నారాయణా విధవగమనా అంటే, అది చిన్ననాటి సంగతి ఊరుకోమన్నాదట.
emoyi narayana vidhavagamana ante, adi chinnanati sangati urukomannadata.
When asked, 'Hey Narayana, why are you going after widows?', he replied, 'That's an old habit from childhood, let it be.'
This proverb is used to describe a person who tries to dismiss a serious character flaw or a recurring bad habit as a trivial matter from the past. It highlights how some people shamelessly justify their persistent wrongdoings instead of feeling remorseful.
ఏకాదశినాడు తల అంటుకొంటావేమి అంటే, అది నిత్యవ్రతము నేడే ఆరంభము అన్నాడట; మర్నాడు తల యెందుకు అంటుకోలేదంటే, నిన్నటితో వ్రతసమాప్తి అన్నాడట.
ekadashinadu tala antukontavemi ante, adi nityavratamu nede arambhamu annadata; marnadu tala yenduku antukoledante, ninnatito vratasamapti annadata.
"What! are you anointing your head on the Ékâdaśi?" said one, "That is a daily task, which I have commenced to- day," replied the other. When asked next day "Why have you not anointed your head?" he said "Yesterday completed my task." Said in joke of a man who does not observe the ceremonial laws.
This proverb describes a hypocrite or a lazy person who makes up convenient excuses to suit their whims. It refers to people who justify their actions with grand promises when it's convenient, but abandon those same principles immediately when they no longer wish to follow them. It is used to mock inconsistent behavior and flimsy rationalizations.
'తూ' అంటే, బలా అన్నదంట
tu ante, bala annadanta
If one says 'Thoo' (spit/insult), the other said 'Bala' (excellent/good).
This proverb is used to describe a person who is shameless or lacks self-respect. It refers to someone who takes an insult or a criticism as a compliment, often due to thick-skinned behavior or a refusal to acknowledge their mistakes.
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.
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.