దున్నపోతు లాగున్నావు తేలుమంత్రం తెలియదా? అన్నాడట.
dunnapotu lagunnavu telumantram teliyada? annadata.
He said, 'You look as big as a buffalo, yet you don't know the scorpion charm?'
This is a sarcastic expression used to mock someone who possesses great physical size or strength but lacks basic common sense or a specific simple skill. It highlights the irony of having a large stature without the expected mental capability or practical knowledge to handle a small problem.
Related Phrases
ఎద్దు ఎండకు లాగ, దున్నపోతు నీడకు లాగ.
eddu endaku laga, dunnapotu nidaku laga.
The bullock pulled towards the sun, and the buffalo towards the shade. A bad match. Every couple is not a pair.
This proverb describes a situation where two people are working together but have completely opposite goals, temperaments, or directions. It is used to highlight a lack of cooperation or synchronization, making it impossible to complete a task effectively because the parties involved are pulling in different ways.
మా దేవుని సత్యం మాకు తెలియదా?
ma devuni satyam maku teliyada?
Don't we know our own god's truth?
This expression is used when someone tries to explain or hide facts about a person or situation that you already know very well. It highlights that one is already intimately familiar with the reality or the flaws of the subject in question, making external explanations unnecessary.
తేలు మంత్రం రాకపోయినా పాము పడగపై చేయి వేసినట్లు
telu mantram rakapoyina pamu padagapai cheyi vesinatlu
Like placing a hand on a cobra's hood without even knowing the spell for a scorpion sting.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks even basic skills or knowledge but attempts to handle a much more dangerous or complex situation. It highlights the foolishness of overestimating one's abilities and taking unnecessary risks.
లావు మీద వంపు తెలియదు
lavu mida vampu teliyadu
On account of excessive fat, the bend/curve is not noticeable
This expression is used to describe a situation where a person is so consumed by pride, arrogance, or their own status that they fail to recognize their own flaws or the subtle changes around them. It can also refer to how excessive wealth or power can mask underlying problems or lack of character.
దిగితే గాని లోతు తెలియదు.
digite gani lotu teliyadu.
The depth is not known until one enters (the water).
This expression means that one cannot truly understand the complexity or difficulty of a situation until they are personally involved or have started the task. It is used to advise against making superficial judgments or to explain that practical experience is necessary to grasp the reality of a problem.
ఎద్దులా ఉన్నావు, తేలు మంత్రం తెలియదా?
eddula unnavu, telu mantram teliyada?
You are as big as an ox, don't you even know a scorpion spell?
This expression is used to mock someone who is physically large or grown-up but lacks basic common sense or simple skills. It highlights the irony of having a big stature while being incompetent in trivial matters.
నీరు చొరక లోతు నికరము తెలియదు
niru choraka lotu nikaramu teliyadu
One cannot know the exact depth of the water without entering it.
This expression means that you cannot understand the true nature, difficulty, or complexity of a situation until you personally get involved or experience it. It is used to suggest that practical experience is necessary to judge the reality of a matter, rather than making assumptions from the outside.
తింటేగాని రుచి తెలియదు, దిగితేగాని లోతు తెలియదు.
tintegani ruchi teliyadu, digitegani lotu teliyadu.
Without eating you can't tell the taste; without going down [ into the water ] you can't know the depth. The proof of a pudding is in the eating.
This proverb emphasizes that practical experience is essential to truly understand or judge something. Just as you cannot judge a dish without tasting it or know the depth of a pond without stepping into it, you cannot understand the complexities or difficulties of a situation or task until you are personally involved in it.
'వ్వి' అంటే తెలియదా? రోకలి పోటు.
vvi ante teliyada? rokali potu.
Don't you know what 'vvi' means? It is the strike of a pestle.
This expression is used to describe someone who lacks common sense or basic awareness, especially when they fail to understand something that is painfully obvious or inevitable. It originates from the rhythmic grunt 'vvi' made by workers while using a heavy wooden pestle (rokali); if one doesn't know what that sound signifies, they are bound to be hit by the heavy tool.
అల్లమంటే తెలియదా బెల్లం మాదిరి పుల్లగా ఉంటుంది అన్నాడట
allamante teliyada bellam madiri pullaga untundi annadata
When asked about ginger, he said 'Don't I know? It is sour just like jaggery'.
This expression is used to mock someone who pretends to be an expert or highly knowledgeable about a subject when they actually lack even the most basic understanding of it. It highlights the absurdity of giving a confidently wrong answer where the description (sour jaggery) contradicts the actual nature of the object (pungent ginger).