ఎముక లేని నాలుక ఏమైనా పలుకుతుంది

emuka leni naluka emaina palukutundi

Translation

A tongueless bone can say anything.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe people who make irresponsible statements, false promises, or inconsistent claims because the tongue is flexible and has no bone to restrain it. It highlights that talk is cheap and people can easily lie or change their words without consequence.

Related Phrases

A tongue without a bone speaks in four different ways

This expression refers to the inconsistency of human speech. Since the tongue is flexible and has no bone (naram) to keep it rigid, it can easily change its stance or twist the truth. It is used to describe people who are unreliable, go back on their word, or change their versions of a story to suit their convenience.

A hand without a bone

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely generous and charitable. Just as a hand without a bone would be flexible and unable to close or withhold, it refers to someone who gives freely to others without hesitation or stinginess.

A boneless tongue can be turned in any direction.

This expression is used to describe people who are inconsistent, make false promises, or change their words easily to suit their convenience. Since the tongue has no bone, it can 'bend' to say anything, implying that a person can lie or go back on their word without any physical restraint or moral conviction.

A person with two tongues

This expression is used to describe a hypocrite or a person who is deceitful. It refers to someone who says different things to different people or someone who goes back on their word (double-tongued).

The boneless tongue turns in any way.

This proverb is used to describe people who are inconsistent with their words, lie easily, or make promises they don't intend to keep. Since the tongue has no bone to restrict its movement, it can say anything (true or false) to suit the situation or to escape accountability.

Said of a liar. He lies as fast as a dog can trot.

If an owl is placed in a parrot's cage, will it move or speak?

This proverb is used to describe a person who is out of their depth or placed in a sophisticated environment where they do not belong. Just as an owl remains silent and awkward in a cage designed for a singing parrot, a person lacking knowledge or social grace will remain unresponsive or 'clueless' when placed in a situation that requires intellect or refined behavior.

The tongue without nerves goes all ways. When the conscience is dead, moral restraint disappears.

This proverb is used to describe people who are inconsistent or unreliable in their speech. Since the tongue is flexible (boneless), it can easily twist the truth, make false promises, or change versions of a story to suit the situation. It serves as a warning not to trust everything someone says blindly.

The parrot of a street speaks the language of that street.

This expression is used to describe a person who lacks a firm stance or individual principles, instead adapting their speech and behavior to please the people they are currently with. It can also refer to how someone's environment or upbringing heavily influences their dialect and opinions.

A tongue without bones (nerves) speaks in many ways.

This proverb is used to describe how people can easily change their words, lie, or speak inconsistently because the tongue is flexible and lacks structural restraint. It is often a criticism of someone who makes false promises or shifts their stance conveniently.

A man without money is not worth an areca nut. A man without money is a bow without an arrow. Who has not, is not. (Italian.)

This proverb highlights the importance of financial resources even for the smallest tasks. 'Rooka' refers to a small coin or money, and 'Poka' refers to a betel nut. It means that without basic capital or money, one cannot initiate any business or fulfill even minor needs.