గుడ్డి మామగారు నమస్కారమయ్యా అంటే, రంధికి మూలమా టింకు కోడలా అన్నాడట

guddi mamagaru namaskaramayya ante, randhiki mulama tinku kodala annadata

Translation

When the daughter-in-law said 'Greetings, blind father-in-law', he replied, 'Is this the beginning of a quarrel, you limping daughter-in-law?'

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where both parties are equally at fault or insulting, yet they take offense at each other. The daughter-in-law highlights the father-in-law's blindness while greeting him, and he retaliates by highlighting her limp. It is used to describe hypocritical arguments where people criticize others for the same rudeness they exhibit themselves.

Related Phrases

Shall we have that word said ? O father-in-law! When a Kômaṭi was dying and the word "Nârâyana" had to be pro- nounced in his ears, all his relations tried to shirk this disagreeable duty. The allusion in the proverb is to a proposal made by one of them that the task should be imposed upon the oldest man present.

This is a popular idiom or sarcastic expression used to highlight a situation where someone is inviting criticism or stating the obvious in a way that would make others talk negatively. It is often used to question if one should proceed with an action that will inevitably lead to a predictable, often shameful, reputation or consequence.

When she said " I salute you, O blind father-in-law!" he re- plied " Is this the commencement of strife ? O adulterous daughter-in-law!"

This proverb describes a situation where someone with a guilty conscience or an inferiority complex misinterprets a simple, respectful gesture or a factual observation as an insult. The father-in-law is sensitive about his blindness, so even a respectful greeting that acknowledges his state is taken as an offensive provocation.

Let him that has a glass skull not take to stone throwing. ( Italian. )*

When a woman said "O conceited brother-in-law," he answered "Well, one eyed sister-in-law."

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is criticized for their flaws or arrogance immediately retaliates by pointing out a bigger or equally hurtful flaw in the critic. It highlights a cycle of mutual insults or a situation where a person with faults tries to silence another person's valid observation with rudeness.

When asked 'Which village, mother?', she replied 'Duvvure, you blockhead!'

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone gives an arrogant, rude, or rhyming but nonsensical answer to a polite and simple question. It highlights the lack of basic manners or the tendency of some people to respond aggressively for no reason.

When asked 'What is with this showing off, brother?', he replied 'I don't have a single paisa, younger brother.'

This proverb is used to mock people who boast or show off their status and lifestyle while actually being broke or having no resources. It highlights the irony of people maintaining a grand facade despite having an empty pocket.

If you say 'Rama' repeatedly it becomes 'Ramakoti', if you say 'Kama' repeatedly it becomes 'Kamakoti'

This expression highlights how repetition and persistence transform a simple action into something significant. It is often used to describe how a habit or a recurring thought, whether positive (spiritual/Rama) or negative (desire/Kama), eventually accumulates into a massive force or defines one's character.

Shall we make them say that too, father-in-law?

This expression refers to a situation where a person, having already faced criticism or insults, continues to act recklessly or foolishly, inviting even more public humiliation. It is used to mock someone who doesn't know when to stop and is about to bring more shame upon themselves.

A Tamil mother-in-law and a Prathama-shakha father-in-law.

This proverb is used to describe a household or a situation where things are extremely difficult or unmanageable due to the conflicting or difficult temperaments of the people involved. Historically, in a specific social context, these two groups were stereotyped as being particularly strict or hard to deal with, and their combination in one house was considered a recipe for domestic misery.

When the daughter-in-law said the boundary logs have been laid, the mother-in-law told her to move them back by a handful.

This proverb is used to describe a person (usually someone in authority) who gives unnecessary or contradictory advice just to show their dominance, even when the work done is perfectly fine. It highlights the tendency of some people to find faults or demand changes simply to exercise their power.

When someone said, 'Greetings, Timmanna,' and he asked, 'How do you know my name?', the reply was, 'I knew it as soon as I saw your face.'

This proverb is used to describe a person whose character or foolishness is so obvious that it is written all over their face. It mockingly suggests that someone looks exactly like their name or reputation implies, typically used when someone's identity or traits are self-evident due to their behavior or appearance.