దండుకుపోయినవాడి పెళ్లాం ఎక్కడ ఉన్నా ముండే (ఏనాటికైనా ముండే)

dandukupoyinavadi pellam ekkada unna munde (enatikaina munde)

Translation

The wife of a man who went to war is a widow wherever she stays (she will be a widow eventually anyway).

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation with an inevitable negative outcome. It is used to refer to someone whose fate is sealed or a project that is doomed to fail regardless of the temporary measures or locations changed. It emphasizes that certain losses or consequences are unavoidable due to the high-risk nature of the original action.

Related Phrases

A thief's wife will eventually become a widow.

This proverb suggests that those who engage in illegal or unethical activities will eventually face dire consequences, and their families will inevitably suffer the repercussions. It is used to warn that the fruits of crime are temporary and lead to a tragic end.

The wife of a man who goes to war is destined to be a widow sooner or later.

This proverb highlights the inherent risks and inevitable consequences of certain dangerous professions or life choices. It suggests that when someone consistently involves themselves in high-risk activities (like war), a negative outcome is not a matter of 'if', but 'when'. It is used to caution people about the predictable end results of risky behavior.

Why play the wedding band after the marriage is already over?

This proverb is used to point out that it is useless to perform an action or provide a suggestion after the event or opportunity has already passed. It signifies that certain efforts are redundant or unnecessary when the time for them has lapsed.

If you go forward, she is a dirty woman; if you go backward, she is a mad woman.

This proverb is used to describe a 'catch-22' or a 'no-win' situation where every available option leads to a negative or unpleasant outcome. It is similar to the English expressions 'between a rock and a hard place' or 'between the devil and the deep blue sea.'

Even a doctor's wife has to become a widow one day, it is said.

This proverb emphasizes that death is inevitable and no one can escape the laws of nature, regardless of their status, wealth, or profession. Even a doctor, who saves others' lives, cannot save his own life or protect his spouse from widowhood when the time comes. It is used to point out that certain outcomes are unavoidable and apply to everyone equally.

Already a person with a small/deformed nose, and on top of that, a cold.

This proverb describes a situation where an already difficult or unfortunate condition is made even worse by a new problem. It is used when a person who is already struggling faces an additional, albeit minor, irritation that becomes unbearable given their existing state.

There should be a proper time even for joking.

This proverb is used to advise someone that humor, teasing, or flirting should be done at the right time and place. It suggests that even harmless fun can be inappropriate or offensive if the situation is serious or the timing is wrong.

One who has gone for palm wine, one whose house is burning, and one who has gone to the toddy trees will not come even if their father dies.

This proverb describes people who are so deeply involved or stuck in specific situations that they cannot be reached or distracted by anything else, even a family tragedy. It highlights the behavior of those who are either too focused on their addictions (toddy/palm wine) or too overwhelmed by their own personal disasters (house burning) to fulfill social or family obligations.

The wife of a soldier who went to war—wherever she is, she's at the front!

This proverb is used to describe someone who is overly proactive, pushy, or always managed to stay ahead of others, often in a humorous or slightly critical way. Just as a soldier faces the frontline, his wife is metaphorically described as being 'ahead' or 'at the front' in social settings or tasks.

Is there a flood even before the rain?

This proverb is used to describe a situation where the consequences or reactions appear prematurely, even before the actual event or cause has occurred. It is often used to critique someone who is overreacting, worrying excessively, or making assumptions before they have any basis in reality.