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.
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. )*
డాబుసరి బావా అంటే డబ్బు లేదు మరదలా అన్నాడట
dabusari bava ante dabbu ledu maradala annadata
When she called him 'Showy Brother-in-law', he replied, 'I have no money, Sister-in-law'
This proverb is used to mock someone who puts on a grand act or maintains a high social status for show, but in reality, lacks the financial means to support it. It highlights the gap between outward pretension and inner poverty.
బడాయి ఏమిర అన్నయ్యా అంటే పైసా లేదుర తమ్మయ్యా అన్నాడట
badayi emira annayya ante paisa ledura tammayya annadata
When asked 'What is with this showing off, brother?', he replied 'I don't have a single paisa, younger brother.'
This proverb is used to mock people who boast or show off their status and lifestyle while actually being broke or having no resources. It highlights the irony of people maintaining a grand facade despite having an empty pocket.
వెట్టిగదరా పోలా అంటే, యేడవక తీరదే అయ్యా అన్నాడట.
vettigadara pola ante, yedavaka tirade ayya annadata.
When one said " O Pôla! is it not work without pay ?" he replied " Alas! Sir, there is no way to get out of it." Said of any disagreeable duty, which must be performed without remuneration. To have nothing but one's labour for one's pains. Like the tailor who sewed for nothing and found thread himself. Better sit idle than work for nought.
This expression describes a situation where someone is forced to do a difficult or unrewarding task against their will. It highlights the helplessness of an individual who must comply with an order even when they are miserable doing it. It is used to mock or point out a situation where work is done out of pure obligation without any joy or benefit.
ఏమే గురగాక అంటే, ఎవరికేమి స్థిరమే బద్ధకా అన్నదట
eme guragaka ante, evarikemi sthirame baddhaka annadata
When asked 'What's the matter, Guragaka?', she replied 'Who has anything permanent, Badhdhaka?'
This is a sarcastic proverb used to describe lazy people who give philosophical excuses or use fatalism to justify their lack of effort. It mocks those who avoid work by claiming that since nothing in life is permanent, there is no point in working hard.
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.
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.
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.
'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.
బడాయి ఏమి బాపనమ్మా అంటే అమలుదారు నా అల్లుడాయగదా అన్నదట
badayi emi bapanamma ante amaludaru na alludayagada annadata
When asked why she was so boastful, the lady replied, 'Is it not because the local official is my son-in-law?'
This proverb describes a person who boasts or shows off based on the power, status, or influence of their relatives rather than their own merits. It is used to mock someone who acts arrogant because they have connections to people in high positions.