ఎండు మామిడి టెంకలు మొలలో పెట్టుకొని ఎవరి తాడు తెంప వచ్చావురా వీరన్నా అన్నదట!
endu mamidi tenkalu molalo pettukoni evari tadu tempa vachchavura viranna annadata!
Whom have you come to cheat with dried mango stones in your skirt? O Viranna! A glutton attempted to get more food from a cateress after he had eaten the ordinary meal at the fixed rate; she refused, adding—by way of excuse— that she had no more condiments and could only give him plain rice and buttermilk. Not to be done in this way, he came again with dried pickled mangoes hidden in his cloth. Tādu tempu means literally to break the cord, i. e. to make a widow
This is a sarcastic Telugu proverb used to mock someone who puts on a grand show of bravery or strength despite having no real resources or capabilities. It refers to a person who lacks even basic weapons (carrying useless mango pits instead) but claims to be a hero capable of defeating others. It is used when someone makes empty threats or shows off without substance.
Related Phrases
నా సద్ది తెచ్చి నీ ఇడుపున పెట్టుకొని తినడమెందుకు?
na saddi techchi ni idupuna pettukoni tinadamenduku?
Why should I bring my packed meal and keep it in your lap to eat?
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone expects another person to do all the work or provide all the resources, only for the other person to take the credit or maintain control over the outcome. It signifies a redundant or exploitative arrangement where one party gains nothing despite providing everything.
ఎండుమామిడి టెంకలు ఒడిలో పెట్టుకొని, ఎవరి తాడు తెంపవచ్చావోయి వీరన్నా అన్నాడట.
endumamidi tenkalu odilo pettukoni, evari tadu tempavachchavoyi viranna annadata.
Having dry mango seeds in your lap, whose rope have you come to snap, O Veeranna?
This proverb is used to mock someone who pretends to be a hero or attempts a daring task while possessing very weak or insufficient resources. It highlights the irony of a person with no substance (represented by hollow dry mango seeds) trying to cause significant damage or change (snapping the rope of life/destiny). It is applied when someone's capabilities do not match their overconfident actions.
ఈ ఊళ్లో పెద్దలు ఎవరంటే తాళ్లు, దాతలు ఎవరంటే చాకళ్లు.
i ullo peddalu evarante tallu, datalu evarante chakallu.
When asked who were the great ( men ) in the village, he said "The Palmyraras;" when asked who were the givers ( of presents ), he replied "The washermen." A joke. The Palmyraras are the tallest trees, and the washermen give people back their clothes. ఉ.
This proverb is used to describe a place where there are no truly respectable or generous people. Palm trees are 'tall' but provide no shade or wisdom like an elder, and washermen give back clothes that already belong to others, mimicking 'donation' without actual sacrifice. It highlights a lack of genuine leadership or charity in a community.
ముందు వచ్చినందుకు మున్నూరు వరహాలు దండుగ, మళ్లీ యేల వచ్చినావే మాయధారి తొత్తా
mundu vachchinanduku munnuru varahalu danduga, malli yela vachchinave mayadhari totta
When you came before you cost me three hundred pagodas, why have you come again, you deceitful jade ? A man married a bad wife. After getting 300 pagodas' worth of jewels from him she went off to her mother's house and left her husband to shift for himself. After some time, the jewels having been sold and the proceeds spent, she returned to try her old trick, whereupon the husband accosted her as above.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a previous interaction or investment resulted in a significant loss, yet the source of that loss returns to cause further trouble. It is typically used to express frustration toward someone who has already caused harm or waste and is now reappearing, implying that their presence is neither wanted nor beneficial.
నీ చంకలో పెట్టుకొని పెళ్ళికి వెళ్ళినట్లు
ni chankalo pettukoni pelliki vellinatlu
Like going to a wedding while carrying water (neeyi) in one's armpit.
This expression is used to describe a person who carries unnecessary baggage or clings to something burdensome while going to an important or celebratory event. It highlights the absurdity of holding onto something that hinders one's enjoyment or ease during a significant occasion.
ఎవరివల్ల చెడ్డావోయి వీరన్నా అంటే, నోటివల్ల చెడ్డానోయి కాటమరాజా అన్నాడట.
evarivalla cheddavoyi viranna ante, notivalla cheddanoyi katamaraja annadata.
When Kâṭamarâzu said " O Viranna! by whom have you been ruined?" he replied " I have been ruined by my own mouth O Kâṭamarâzu"!
This proverb highlights the consequences of speaking without thinking or having a 'loose tongue'. It is used to describe a situation where a person brings trouble or ruin upon themselves because of their own indiscreet, boastful, or offensive speech, rather than being harmed by external enemies.
కోడలు వచ్చిన వేళ, కోడెలు వచ్చిన వేళ
kodalu vachchina vela, kodelu vachchina vela
The time the daughter-in-law arrived, the time the young bulls arrived.
This proverb is used to comment on coincidences, specifically when a new arrival in a family (like a daughter-in-law) is blamed or credited for significant events (like the birth of livestock or changes in fortune) that happen shortly after. It highlights how people often link luck or misfortune to a person's entry into the household.
శింగన్నా శింగన్నా అద్దంకి పోయి వచ్చినావా అంటే, పోనూ పోయినాను రానూ వచ్చినానన్నాడట
shinganna shinganna addanki poyi vachchinava ante, ponu poyinanu ranu vachchinanannadata
"Śinganna, Śinganna, have you been to Addanki?" they asked. "I have been and come back" he replied. Śinganna was a simpleton who having heard that he was to be sent on an errand to Addanki, went off in the night without having received his message.
This expression is used to describe someone who gives a redundant, obvious, or meaningless answer to a simple question. It satirizes people who state the obvious as if they are providing significant information, or those who perform a task without achieving any real purpose or results.
నీ తారికాడేది ఎవరంటే, అంజీకివచ్చిన అంకడు అన్నాడట.
ni tarikadedi evarante, anjikivachchina ankadu annadata.
When asked who makes your heart beat/dance, he replied it is the same Ankadu who came for Anji.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone gives a confusing, circular, or irrelevant answer to a straightforward question. It highlights a scenario where a person tries to sound knowledgeable or specific but ends up saying something that makes no sense to the listener.
చూచినది పాము, కరిచినది మామిడి టెంక.
chuchinadi pamu, karichinadi mamidi tenka.
What he saw was a snake, that which bit him was a mango stone. After seeing the snake, he had trodden on a split mango stone which nipped his toe. Flabbergasted with fright.
This expression is used to describe situations where a person mistakenly attributes an event or injury to a false cause due to fear or paranoia. It refers to someone who sees a snake, gets startled, and then feels a sharp pain caused by stepping on a mango seed, wrongly concluding that the snake bit them. It highlights how fear can distort one's perception of reality.