ఎటు వచ్చినా ఎద్దుకి నీరే, మొగుడు వచ్చినా మొండి గోడే.

etu vachchina edduki nire, mogudu vachchina mondi gode.

Translation

Whichever way it goes, it's water for the bull; even if the husband comes, it's just the stubborn wall.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a situation where there is no hope for improvement or change, regardless of the circumstances. It signifies a state of stagnation or a 'no-win' situation where the outcome remains equally bleak or indifferent no matter who arrives or what happens.

Related Phrases

Even if the river flows, there's only a scarcity of water; even if the husband arrives, there's only a stubborn neck.

This proverb describes a state of perpetual misfortune or dissatisfaction where even favorable circumstances do not bring relief. It refers to a person who remains in a miserable or neglected state regardless of changes in their environment or situation. It is used when someone's basic needs or expectations are never met, even when the source of that fulfillment is physically present.

Even if the field yields a harvest, the winnow is still borrowed; even if there is a husband, the neck remains bare.

This proverb describes a state of chronic poverty or misfortune where even a positive turn of events does not improve one's basic condition. It is used to refer to people who remain destitute despite having resources or relationships that should normally provide security.

The reputation gained will not leave even after death

This expression emphasizes that once a person earns a certain reputation—whether good or bad—it stays with them for life and remains even after they pass away. It is often used to remind someone that their actions have long-lasting consequences on their legacy.

The horns which came last are sharper than the ears which came first. Said of a new comer wishing to usurp authority over his seniors.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a newcomer, junior, or younger person surpasses their senior or predecessor in skill, power, or success. It highlights that experience (age) doesn't always guarantee superiority over late-blooming talent or sharp ambition.

The famine came in the very year that the cultivator came to the village. An unfortunate coincidence.

This proverb describes a situation of extreme bad luck or irony where success and disaster occur simultaneously. It is used when a long-awaited positive outcome or reward is immediately neutralized or ruined by an unexpected calamity, leaving no chance to enjoy the fruits of one's labor.

After her husband's death, the jade came to her senses.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone realizes their mistake or understands the importance of something only after it is permanently lost or when it is too late to rectify the damage. It highlights the futility of late realization.

When marriage comes, or vomiting, it cannot be stopped.

This proverb is used to indicate that certain events in life are inevitable and beyond human control once they are set in motion. Just as a physical urge like vomiting cannot be suppressed, significant life events like marriage will happen when the time is right, regardless of attempts to delay or stop them.

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.

The time when a child arrives, and the time when cattle arrive.

This proverb highlights that certain arrival events, such as the birth of a child or the purchase/arrival of livestock, are seen as significant markers of fate. It is used to describe how the timing of these events is often associated with the subsequent prosperity or misfortunes that befall a family, suggesting that the 'auspiciousness' of their arrival time influences the household's future.

Calumny is not removed even by death.

This expression is used to describe a deeply ingrained habit, trait, or skill that stays with a person throughout their lifetime. It suggests that once something is learned or becomes part of a person's nature, it is nearly impossible to change or get rid of it.

Slander leaves a slur. Give a dog an ill name, and you may as well hang him.