ఏడుస్తున్నవాడిని దానిమ్మకాయలు కావాలా అంటే దాని కాయలే నాకు కావాలి అన్నాడట
edustunnavadini danimmakayalu kavala ante dani kayale naku kavali annadata
When a crying person was asked if he wanted pomegranates, he said he only wanted 'those' fruits.
This expression is used to describe a person who is so consumed by their stubbornness or grief that they cannot recognize or appreciate a good offer even when it is presented to them. It highlights the irrationality of someone who refuses a benefit simply because of the way it was offered or because they are stuck in a contrary mood. The humor lies in the pun on 'Danimma' (Pomegranate) and 'Dani-Kaya' (Her fruit/Those fruits).
Related Phrases
వంకర టింకర కాయలు ఏమిటివి అంటే, చిన్ననాడు అమ్మిన చింతకాయలు అన్నాడట
vankara tinkara kayalu emitivi ante, chinnanadu ammina chintakayalu annadata
When she asked "What are those crooked pods?" they re- plied "The unripe tamarinds you sold in your youth." The story goes that the daughter of very poor parents who in her youth had to go about selling the unripe tamarinds she was able to gather from under the trees, afterwards became the wife of a rich man. Passing through the streets one day in her grand palankin, she superciliously enquired what a tamarind girl was selling, when her bearers replied as above, "These are the tamarinds Madam, which you sold in your youth." To take one a peg lower. You used to be a baker though now you wear gloves. (Spanish.)
This proverb is used to describe someone who tries to justify their current mistakes or poor behavior by linking them to past habits or experiences. It also mocks people who give obvious or silly explanations for things that are common knowledge, pretending as if they have discovered something unique.
కడియాలవారు వచ్చారు అంటే కడియాలు కావాలా అన్నాడట
kadiyalavaru vachcharu ante kadiyalu kavala annadata
When told 'The Kadiyala family has arrived', he asked 'Do they want bracelets?'
This proverb is used to mock people who take things too literally or misunderstand context by focusing only on the phonetics of a word. 'Kadiyala' is a common Telugu surname, but the listener confuses it with the jewelry 'Kadiyalu' (bracelets), showing a lack of common sense or social awareness.
నందుకు ఏడుస్తున్నాను అన్నదట.
nanduku edustunnanu annadata.
She said she was crying for 'Nandu'.
This phrase is used to describe a situation where someone is pretending to be sad or upset for a noble reason, while their true motive is hidden or entirely different. It highlights hypocrisy or deceptive behavior.
చింతకాయలు ఎరుగని దొరసాని, చింతకాయలను చూచి కొడవళ్ళా అన్నదట
chintakayalu erugani dorasani, chintakayalanu chuchi kodavalla annadata
The lady who had never seen tamarinds asked if they were sickles upon seeing them.
This proverb describes someone who is completely ignorant of common, everyday things but tries to act sophisticated or superior. It is used to mock people who lack practical knowledge or those who make ridiculous assumptions about simple matters due to their lack of exposure.
ఏడుపున్నమ్మకు కథలు కావు.
edupunnammaku kathalu kavu.
For a woman who is crying, stories do not flow.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is so overwhelmed by their own troubles, grief, or problems that they cannot focus on or engage in creative, productive, or entertaining activities. It suggests that a disturbed mind cannot offer inspiration or joy.
నీకు ఆయన ఏమికావాలి అని అడిగితే, త్రోవలో పోయేవాడు కావాలి అన్నదట
niku ayana emikavali ani adigite, trovalo poyevadu kavali annadata
When asked how he was related to her, she said he is someone walking on the road.
This expression is used to describe a person who claims a relationship or connection with someone entirely unknown or unrelated, or someone who gives a completely irrelevant and nonsensical answer to a simple question about kinship.
జెముడుకు కాయలు ఉన్నవా నీడ ఉన్నదా?
jemuduku kayalu unnava nida unnada?
Has the Jemuḍu fruit or shade?
This proverb is used to describe a person who is completely useless or miserly. Just as a cactus neither provides edible fruit nor sufficient shade for a traveler, some individuals possess neither a helpful nature nor resources that benefit others. It is typically applied to people from whom no help or kindness can be expected.
Jemuḍu is the Euphorbia Tirucalli.
రాజు కొడుకైనా కావాలి, సానిదాని తమ్ముడైనా కావాలి.
raju kodukaina kavali, sanidani tammudaina kavali.
One must either be the son of a king or the brother of a courtesan.
This proverb refers to the privilege of living a life of leisure and luxury without manual labor. It suggests that such a comfortable lifestyle is typically reserved for those born into royalty (power/wealth) or those who live off the earnings and influence of someone highly sought after (historically referring to the status of a 'Sani' or courtesan's family members who were often pampered). It is used to describe someone who enjoys benefits without working for them.
టెంకాయ చెట్టెందుకు ఎక్కినావురా అంటే దూడగడ్డి కోసమన్నాడట, గడ్డి చెట్టుపైన ఉంటుందా అంటే లేదు కాబట్టే దిగివస్తున్నానన్నాడట కాయల దొంగ.
tenkaya chettenduku ekkinavura ante dudagaddi kosamannadata, gaddi chettupaina untunda ante ledu kabatte digivastunnanannadata kayala donga.
When a thief was asked why he climbed the coconut tree, he said it was for calf grass; when told grass doesn't grow on trees, he said that's why he was coming down.
This expression is used to describe a person who gives a foolish, illogical, or absurd excuse when caught red-handed. It highlights the tendency of people to make up desperate and silly justifications to cover up their mistakes or crimes even when the lie is obvious.
కోన కావలి
kona kavali
[Placing] a guard over a forest. Attempting impossibilities.
This phrase refers to a person who is assigned to watch over a specific corner or a border area. In a broader metaphorical sense, it is often used to describe someone who is protective of their territory or a person who holds a position of oversight in a specific niche or remote area.