చోటే లేదంటే, మూల ఎక్కడ వెదుకుదును అన్నాడట
chote ledante, mula ekkada vedukudunu annadata
When told there is no space at all, he asked where to find a corner.
This proverb is used to describe someone who lacks common sense or is being pedantic/unreasonable. If there is no space available in a room or a situation, it is logically impossible to find a specific corner within that space. It highlights the absurdity of asking for a small part of something that has already been declared non-existent.
Related Phrases
కుక్క తోక వంకర, ఎంతటికీ గుణము మానను అన్నదట.
kukka toka vankara, entatiki gunamu mananu annadata.
A dog's tail is crooked; it said it won't change its nature.
This expression is used to describe a person who refuses to change their inherent bad habits or character, regardless of how much advice they receive or how much effort is made to reform them. It is similar to the English proverb 'A leopard cannot change its spots'.
పేద కడుపు నింపను అన్నం వెదకును, మహరాజు అన్నం నింపను కడుపు వెదకును.
peda kadupu nimpanu annam vedakunu, maharaju annam nimpanu kadupu vedakunu.
The poor man searches for food to fill his stomach, while the king searches for a stomach to fill his food.
This proverb highlights the irony of wealth and physical health. It suggests that while the poor struggle to find food for their hunger, the wealthy (who have plenty of food) often struggle with appetite or health issues, needing to find a way to make themselves hungry enough to eat their rich meals.
చెంబు ఎక్కడ పెట్టి మరిచిపోయావురా అంటే నీళ్ళ చాయ కూర్చున్న చోటికి ఇటు అన్నాడు; నీళ్ళ చాయ ఎక్కడ కూర్చున్నావు అంటే చెంబు పెట్టిన దానికి అటు అన్నాడు.
chembu ekkada petti marichipoyavura ante nilla chaya kurchunna chotiki itu annadu; nilla chaya ekkada kurchunnavu ante chembu pettina daniki atu annadu.
When asked where he forgot the water pot, he said 'This side of where I sat for water'; when asked where he sat for water, he said 'That side of where I put the pot'.
This proverb describes a situation of circular reasoning or giving evasive, useless answers. It is used to mock someone who provides explanations that lead back to the starting point without providing any actual information or solving the problem.
శుభం పలకరా పెండ్లికొడుకా అంటే పెళ్ళి కూతురు ముండ ఎక్కడున్నదన్నాడట
shubham palakara pendlikoduka ante pelli kuturu munda ekkadunnadannadata
When asked to say something auspicious, the groom asked where the widow bride was.
This proverb is used to describe a person who says something highly inappropriate, offensive, or pessimistic at a moment when they are expected to be positive or auspicious. It highlights social awkwardness or a lack of common sense in critical situations.
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.
'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.
అలవాలకు దోవెక్కడ అంటే, ఉలవలకు దున్నుతున్నాను అన్నాడట.
alavalaku dovekkada ante, ulavalaku dunnutunnanu annadata.
When asked 'Where is the way to Alavalu?', he replied 'I am ploughing for horse gram'.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone gives a completely irrelevant or disconnected answer to a question, often due to a lack of attention, hearing impairment, or a deliberate attempt to avoid the topic. It signifies a total lack of communication or synchronization between two people.
రొట్టె లేదు గానీ, నెయ్యి ఉంటే అద్దుకుని తిందును అన్నాడట
rotte ledu gani, neyyi unte addukuni tindunu annadata
He said he doesn't have bread, but if there were ghee, he would dip it and eat.
This proverb is used to mock people who make grand plans or express desires for luxuries when they lack even the basic necessities. It describes a situation where someone is worrying about an accompaniment (ghee) while the main requirement (bread) is missing, highlighting a lack of practicality or a tendency to daydream beyond one's means.
ఒకడు మునిగిపోతూ ఉంటే, ఇంకొకడు ఈత వచ్చా అని అడిగితే, వాడు మునిగిపోతూ కూడా వచ్చు అన్నాడట.
okadu munigipotu unte, inkokadu ita vachcha ani adigite, vadu munigipotu kuda vachchu annadata.
When one was drowning and another asked if he knew how to swim, he replied 'I know' even while sinking.
This expression is used to mock someone who is too proud to admit their failure or lack of knowledge even when they are in a desperate or losing situation. It highlights the foolishness of maintaining a false ego while facing total ruin.
శకునం వేళ ఎక్కడికని అడగకూడదు గాని, ఎక్కడికో చెప్పిపో అన్నట్లు.
shakunam vela ekkadikani adagakudadu gani, ekkadiko cheppipo annatlu.
They say one shouldn't ask 'Where are you going?' at an auspicious time, but do tell me where you are going before you leave.
This proverb describes a hypocritical or contradictory behavior where someone pretends to follow a tradition or rule while simultaneously breaking it. In Telugu culture, asking 'Where are you going?' right as someone departs is considered a bad omen (shakunam). This saying mocks people who acknowledge the taboo but proceed to ask the question anyway out of curiosity.