ఏకాదశినాడు తల అంటుకొంటావేమి అంటే, అది నిత్యవ్రతము నేడే ఆరంభము అన్నాడట; మర్నాడు తల యెందుకు అంటుకోలేదంటే, నిన్నటితో వ్రతసమాప్తి అన్నాడట.
ekadashinadu tala antukontavemi ante, adi nityavratamu nede arambhamu annadata; marnadu tala yenduku antukoledante, ninnatito vratasamapti annadata.
"What! are you anointing your head on the Ékâdaśi?" said one, "That is a daily task, which I have commenced to- day," replied the other. When asked next day "Why have you not anointed your head?" he said "Yesterday completed my task." Said in joke of a man who does not observe the ceremonial laws.
This proverb describes a hypocrite or a lazy person who makes up convenient excuses to suit their whims. It refers to people who justify their actions with grand promises when it's convenient, but abandon those same principles immediately when they no longer wish to follow them. It is used to mock inconsistent behavior and flimsy rationalizations.
Related Phrases
రాగిపోగులు తగిలించుకున్నావేమిరా అంటే, నీకు అవైనా లేవు కదా అన్నాడట.
ragipogulu tagilinchukunnavemira ante, niku avaina levu kada annadata.
When asked why he was wearing copper earrings, he replied that the other person didn't even have those.
This expression describes a person who tries to hide their own inferiority or low-quality choices by pointing out that others have nothing at all. It is used to mock someone who is overly proud of something insignificant or cheap, or someone who uses others' lack of resources to justify their own poor standards.
ఉపాధ్యాయుడు ఏమి చెప్తున్నాడు అంటే, అబద్ధాలు వ్రాసి దిద్దుకుంటున్నాడు అన్నాడట
upadhyayudu emi cheptunnadu ante, abaddhalu vrasi diddukuntunnadu annadata
When asked what the teacher was saying, he replied that the teacher was writing lies and correcting them.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is engaged in a pointless, self-serving, or dishonest activity. It specifically mocks people who create their own problems (or falsehoods) just to appear busy or virtuous by fixing them. It highlights the absurdity of circular logic or redundant, deceptive work.
కాదు కాదు అంటే నాది నాది అన్నాడట.
kadu kadu ante nadi nadi annadata.
When one said "Kādu, Kādu" the other said "Nādi, Nādi."
This proverb describes a situation where someone persistently tries to claim ownership or credit for something even after being explicitly told it doesn't belong to them or is incorrect. It is used to mock people who are shamelessly stubborn or opportunistic despite being rejected.
Kādu in Telugu means " it is not," "no;" in Tamil it signifies " the ear." A Telugu man on one occasion accidentally stuck the barb of his spear into a Tamilian's ear, on which the latter cried out "Kādu! Kādu!" ( My ear! my ear! ) The Telugu man thinking he meant to say " Not yours, not yours" pulled at the spear all the harder, saying "Nādi! Nādi!" (It's mine! it's mine!). Said to a man who is obstinate in argument.
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.
అరే గడ్డితినే కోమటీ అంటే, యేమోయి బెల్లంతినే సాయెబూ అన్నాడట; అట్లా అంటివేమి కోమటీ అంటే, అతనికి అది వాడుక నాకు యిదివాడుక అన్నాడట.
are gadditine komati ante, yemoyi bellantine sayebu annadata; atla antivemi komati ante, ataniki adi vaduka naku yidivaduka annadata.
"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.
తిమ్మన్నా తిమ్మన్నా నమస్కారము అన్నాడట; నా పేరు నీకు యెట్లా తెలిసినది అంటే, నీ ముఖం చూడగానే తెలిసినది అన్నాడట.
timmanna timmanna namaskaramu annadata; na peru niku yetla telisinadi ante, ni mukham chudagane telisinadi annadata.
" Timmanna! Timmanna! I salute you" cried one—"How do you know my name?" said the other. "I knew it directly I saw your face" replied the first.
This proverb is used to mock someone who tries to act clever by stating the obvious or using circular logic. Thimmanna is a generic name often used for a monkey; seeing a monkey's face makes it obvious it's a 'Thimmanna'. It describes a situation where a person provides a silly or self-evident explanation for something as if it were a great insight.
'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.
పట్టపగలు కన్నము వేస్తావేమిరా అంటే, నా కక్కురితి నీకు ఏమి తెలుసును అన్నాడట.
pattapagalu kannamu vestavemira ante, na kakkuriti niku emi telusunu annadata.
A burglar being asked why he was house-breaking in the day time, replied " What do you know of my necessities?" Distress tempts to crime.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is so driven by greed or extreme necessity that they abandon all common sense, shame, or fear of consequences. It highlights how someone might do something blatantly foolish or risky just to satisfy their immediate urges or needs.
ముసలమ్మ బుర్ర వణికిస్తావేమి అంటే, ఊరుకుండి నేనేమి చేస్తాను అన్నదట.
musalamma burra vanikistavemi ante, urukundi nenemi chestanu annadata.
When an aged lady was asked " Why do you shake your head ?" she replied " Because I have nothing better to do." A foolish question, and a smart answer.
This expression is used to describe a person who does something useless or involuntary and tries to justify it as a meaningful activity or a way to pass time. It highlights the tendency to make excuses for involuntary actions or habits that have no real purpose.
అత్తా రావే నూతిలో పడదాము అంటే, ఆదివారం అందరమూ పడదాము అన్నదట.
atta rave nutilo padadamu ante, adivaram andaramu padadamu annadata.
When the daughter-in-law said, 'Mother-in-law, come let us jump into the well', the mother-in-law replied, 'Let us all jump on Sunday'.
This proverb is used to describe procrastination or the act of postponing a task (often an unpleasant or impulsive one) by setting a specific future date. It highlights how people use logic or scheduling to delay actions they aren't truly committed to, or simply the habit of turning a private matter into a public event to avoid immediate execution.