గొడ్డలి ఎక్కడ పెట్టినావురా? అంటే, కొట్టే చెట్టు దగ్గర; కొట్టే చెట్టు ఎక్కడుందిరా? అంటే, గొడ్డలి ఉన్న చోట
goddali ekkada pettinavura? ante, kotte chettu daggara; kotte chettu ekkadundira? ante, goddali unna chota
Where did you put the axe? At the tree being cut. Where is the tree being cut? At the place where the axe is.
This expression describes a circular argument or a logical fallacy where two answers depend on each other without providing any real information. It is used to mock someone who gives evasive, redundant, or circular explanations that lead nowhere.
Related Phrases
చెంబు ఎక్కడ పెట్టి మరిచిపోయావురా అంటే నీళ్ళ చాయ కూర్చున్న చోటికి ఇటు అన్నాడు; నీళ్ళ చాయ ఎక్కడ కూర్చున్నావు అంటే చెంబు పెట్టిన దానికి అటు అన్నాడు.
chembu ekkada petti marichipoyavura ante nilla chaya kurchunna chotiki itu annadu; nilla chaya ekkada kurchunnavu ante chembu pettina daniki atu annadu.
When asked where he forgot the water pot, he said 'This side of where I sat for water'; when asked where he sat for water, he said 'That side of where I put the pot'.
This proverb describes a situation of circular reasoning or giving evasive, useless answers. It is used to mock someone who provides explanations that lead back to the starting point without providing any actual information or solving the problem.
ఆ దారి ఎక్కడికి పోతుంది అని అంటే, ఎక్కడికీ పోదు, నేను పుట్టింది మొదలు ఇక్కడే ఉంది అన్నట్లు.
a dari ekkadiki potundi ani ante, ekkadiki podu, nenu puttindi modalu ikkade undi annatlu.
When asked where that road goes, replying that it doesn't go anywhere and has been right here since I was born.
A humorous or sarcastic expression used to describe a person who interprets a question too literally or lacks common sense. It mocks the ignorance of someone who fails to understand that 'where does the road go' refers to its destination, not its physical movement.
చెట్టెక్కి చేతులు విడిచినట్లు
chettekki chetulu vidichinatlu
Like climbing a tree and then letting go with the hands.
This expression describes a situation where someone abandons a task or withdraws support at a critical stage after taking a significant risk or putting in initial effort. It refers to someone who leaves others in a vulnerable or dangerous position without warning, or sabotages their own success at the final moment.
చెట్టుకు మడిగుడ్డ కట్టి ఉన్నదిలే, దొంగ చెట్టెక్కడు అన్నదట సోమిదేవమ్మ
chettuku madigudda katti unnadile, donga chettekkadu annadata somidevamma
The tree is wrapped in a sacred ritual cloth, so a thief won't climb it, said Somidevamma.
This proverb mocks people who have naive or blind faith in superficial rituals or symbols to prevent bad things from happening. It describes a situation where someone believes that a simple religious gesture (like tying a 'madigudda' or ritual cloth) will magically stop a criminal, ignoring the practical reality that a thief does not care about such things. It is used to highlight foolishness or misplaced confidence in symbolic protection.
గొడ్డలి దెబ్బకు అన్నాడట
goddali debbaku annadata
He said 'brother' to the axe blow
This expression describes a situation where someone suddenly becomes humble, respectful, or starts calling an enemy 'brother' only when faced with an immediate, life-threatening danger or severe punishment. It is used to mock people who only show manners or submission when they are under duress.
సోయిదప్పిన వాడా? సొంగ ఎక్కడ పెట్టినావురా? అంటే, త్రాగి తమ్మళ్ళ బాలమ్మ గుడిసెకు చేరినా నన్నాడట!
soyidappina vada? songa ekkada pettinavura? ante, tragi tammalla balamma gudiseku cherina nannadata!
When asked, 'You unconscious fellow, where did you leave your drool?', he replied, 'I got drunk and ended up in Thammalla Balamma's hut.'
This proverb describes a situation where someone, in an attempt to answer a simple question or hide a small mistake, accidentally confesses to a much larger or more embarrassing secret. It is used when a person's lack of presence of mind leads them to reveal incriminating information they were supposed to keep hidden.
పిల్లా పిల్లా నువ్వుల చెట్టుకు నూనె ఎక్కడిదంటే, మా అమ్మ తొలి సమర్తకి, మలి సమర్తకి ఎక్కడున్నావు అందిట.
pilla pilla nuvvula chettuku nune ekkadidante, ma amma toli samartaki, mali samartaki ekkadunnavu andita.
When a child was asked where sesame oil comes from, she replied, 'Where were you during my mother's first and second puberty ceremonies?'
This proverb describes a situation where someone gives a completely irrelevant or nonsensical answer to a simple, logical question. It is used to mock people who try to sound wise or deflect a question they don't understand by bringing up unrelated personal or family history.
ఏ చెట్టూ లేని చోట ఆముదపు చెట్టే మహావృక్షం.
e chettu leni chota amudapu chette mahavriksham.
In a place where there are no trees, even a castor oil plant is a great tree.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person with very little knowledge or skill is considered an expert simply because everyone else around them is completely ignorant or incompetent. It is similar to the English expression 'In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.'
ఒట్టు తీసి గట్టు మీద పెట్టు
ottu tisi gattu mida pettu
Take the oath and place it on the riverbank
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone completely ignores or breaks a serious promise, oath, or principle to suit their convenience. It implies a blatant disregard for a commitment previously made.
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.