దొంగ చిక్కాడోయ్ అంటే, కరిచాడోయ్ అన్నాడట

donga chikkadoy ante, karichadoy annadata

Translation

When one cried out "I have got the thief" the other said "Take care! he'll bite." A cowardly fellow.

Meaning

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.

Related Phrases

When asked 'What is that in your armpit?', he replied 'It's my armpit, sir'.

This expression describes a situation where someone gives a redundant, evasive, or foolishly obvious answer to avoid revealing what they are hiding. It is used to mock people who try to hide something by stating the obvious or using circular reasoning.

When the Śāḥib was asked how it was he had grown so thin, he said "We will grow thinner, and still thinner, and if we like we will even die, what's that to you ?" Said of a supercilious fool.

This expression is used to describe a person who is stubborn, defiant, or overly sensitive to unsolicited advice. It highlights a scenario where someone reacts with unnecessary hostility or fatalism when others show concern for their well-being, essentially telling the meddler to mind their own business.

"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.

When a fly falls into the raw gruel, the monk says 'whatever fell is dedicated to Lord Rama'

This expression is used to describe a person who pretends to be generous or sacrificial only when something is already lost, ruined, or of no use to them. It mocks the act of making a virtue out of necessity or masking a loss as a voluntary donation.

"O Kanakalingam ! how did you lose your eyes ?" asked one; "The result of my deeds, O Śambhulingam!" replied the other. An evasive answer.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone tries to hide their mistakes or incompetence by blaming it on fate, karma, or destiny. It specifically refers to people who give philosophical or fatalistic excuses for problems they likely caused themselves, or when someone avoids giving a direct answer to a straightforward question about their failures.

When one said 'Oh Lord Shambulinga, this is the destiny I have created for myself', the response was 'Oh Abbulinga, there is no way out but to endure it'

This proverb emphasizes the law of karma and accountability. It suggests that one must inevitably face the consequences of their own actions, whether good or bad. It is used in contexts where someone is complaining about their self-inflicted troubles, highlighting that regret is futile and one must endure the results of their past choices.

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.

When called a thief, he might bite your nose—so be careful.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person, when confronted about their mistake or crime, reacts with excessive aggression or intimidation to silence the accuser. It refers to someone who uses offensive behavior as a defense mechanism to hide their guilt.

She said 'they have fallen'.

This phrase is used to describe a person who tries to cover up their failure or misfortune by acting as if it was their original intention or a deliberate choice. It originates from a story where a person falls down and, to avoid embarrassment, claims they intended to lie down.

When asked 'O Kanakalinga, why did you lose your eye?', he replied 'It is the result of my past deeds, O Shambulinga'.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone tries to hide their mistakes or incompetence by blaming it on fate or karma. It highlights a circular or evasive way of answering where instead of giving a direct reason for a failure, one attributes it to destiny to avoid accountability.