అత్తవారిల్లంటే కత్తులబోను.
attavarillante kattulabonu.
The mother-in-law's house is like a cage of knives.
This proverb describes the traditional challenges and extreme caution a daughter-in-law often felt she had to exercise in her marital home. It signifies a place where one must behave very carefully, as any small mistake could lead to criticism, conflict, or emotional injury, much like walking through a cage lined with sharp blades.
Related Phrases
తండ్రిని చంపబోయిన పాపము అత్తవారింటికి పోయి అంబటికట్ట తెగేవరకు ఉంటే పోను.
tandrini champaboyina papamu attavarintiki poyi ambatikatta tegevaraku unte ponu.
The sin of intending to kill your father will be effaced if you go to your mother-in-law's house and stay there till the porridge dish is burst. A man was in the habit of telling his friends when they enquired how his son progressed with his studies that he was very stupid and idle. This he did from a superstitious dread of his son being struck by the evil eye of an envious person if he praised him. The son, not understanding his father's motive and being greatly irritated, determined to kill him. He got upon a beam over his father's couch and was about to drop a large stone on his head when he fortunately overheard him explaining to his mother the reason of his strange conduct. The boy then came down and fell at his father's feet confessing his murderous intentions and begging for for- giveness and to be shown a way of expiating his sin. The father replied to him in the words of the Proverb, telling him he was to remain in his mother-in-law's house until the porridge dish was broken. He went, and after having been paid the usual attentions for a day or two was afterwards treated with rudeness and fed with poor fare. At last the butter milk was one day poured so roughly into his porridge that the side of it gave way. He was then released from his expiatory ordeal and returned home rejoicing!
This is a humorous and sarcastic proverb used to describe the difficulties and loss of respect a man faces when he stays for an excessively long time at his in-laws' house (Illarikam). It suggests that the humiliation and hardship endured there are so severe that they could compensate even for the gravest of sins.
పేరు గొప్ప, ఊరు దిబ్బ
peru goppa, uru dibba
The name is great, but the village is a mound.
Used to describe a situation where someone or something has a grand reputation or a fancy name, but the actual reality is disappointing, poor, or hollow. It is similar to the English expression 'All that glitters is not gold' or 'Big name, no substance'.
కన్నతల్లి కడుపు చూస్తుంది, కట్టుకున్నది వీపు చూస్తుంది
kannatalli kadupu chustundi, kattukunnadi vipu chustundi
The birth mother looks at the stomach, the wife looks at the back.
This proverb highlights the difference in perspectives of caregivers. A mother is primarily concerned with her child's well-being and whether they have eaten (the stomach), whereas a wife or the world may look at what the person has brought home or their capacity for labor (the back/burden). It is used to describe the selfless nature of maternal love compared to the practical expectations of other relationships.
కాకి కట్టుమన్న కడుపాయె వదినా, కత్తవబావికి పోతే కరిగిపోయె వదినా.
kaki kattumanna kadupaye vadina, kattavabaviki pote karigipoye vadina.
Sister-in-law, the pregnancy I got because a crow told me to, dissolved when I went to the Kattawa well.
This is a sarcastic or mocking expression used to describe someone who makes up silly, unbelievable excuses for their failures or for things that never actually happened. It highlights a situation where one lie is piled upon another to cover up a previous deception or a lack of results.
అన్నము పెట్టినవారిల్లు కన్నము పెట్టవచ్చునా?
annamu pettinavarillu kannamu pettavachchuna?
May you break into the house of him who has fed you ?
This proverb emphasizes the virtue of gratitude and loyalty. It suggests that it is a great sin or an act of extreme betrayal to harm or cheat someone who has helped or supported you during your time of need.
Kannam is a hole made by burglars in the wall of a house.
ఎద్దు ఈనిందంటే కొట్టాన కట్టమన్నాడట
eddu inindante kottana kattamannadata
When told that a bull has given birth, he asked to tie the calf in the shed.
This proverb describes a person who blindly reacts or believes something without thinking logically. Since a bull (male) cannot give birth, a rational person should question the statement first. Instead, the person in the proverb immediately suggests a next step, showing gullibility or a lack of common sense. It is used to mock people who follow instructions or rumors without verifying the facts.
ఏ కట్టెకు నిప్పంటిస్తే ఆ కట్టె కాలుతుంది.
e katteku nippantiste a katte kalutundi.
Whichever stick you set fire to, that stick will burn.
This expression is used to convey the principle of direct accountability or natural consequences. It implies that only the person involved in a specific action or trouble will experience its results, rather than someone else. It is often used to say that problems or punishments stay with those who cause or deserve them.
ముందు అరకకు మొనగాళ్ళను కట్టవలె
mundu arakaku monagallanu kattavale
Strong oxen must be tied to the first plow.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of starting a task with the most capable or experienced people. In agriculture, the first plow sets the path for others to follow, so it requires the strongest bulls. Similarly, in any project or leadership scenario, the beginning should be handled by experts to ensure a solid foundation and direction for those who follow.
తండ్రిని చంపిన పాపం అత్తవారింటికి పోయి అంబటి కట్ట తెగే వరకు వణికితే పోతుంది
tandrini champina papam attavarintiki poyi ambati katta tege varaku vanikite potundi
The sin of killing one's father goes away if one goes to the in-laws' house and trembles until the porridge bundle breaks.
This is a sarcastic or satirical proverb used to mock people who seek trivial or impossible 'penance' for heinous crimes. It also highlights the historical notion that a son-in-law is often nervous or treated with excessive formality at his in-laws' house, to the point where even his trembling is exaggeratedly described. It implies that some sins are unforgivable or that some solutions offered are ridiculous.
చీపురుకట్టకు పట్టుకుచ్చు కట్టినట్లు
chipurukattaku pattukuchchu kattinatlu
A silk tassel to a broom.
This expression is used to describe an absurd or mismatched combination where something very beautiful, expensive, or high-quality is wasted on or attached to something lowly, ugly, or insignificant. It highlights the incongruity and pointlessness of such an arrangement.
The grand appearance of a worthless person. A leaden sword in an ivory scabbard.