గుజ్జీ రావే గడ్డికి పోదాము అంటే, నా గూని వెనక వాళ్లకు తెలియదా అన్నదట.

gujji rave gaddiki podamu ante, na guni venaka vallaku teliyada annadata.

Translation

When called, 'Shorty, come, let's go for grass,' she replied, 'Don't the people behind me know about my hunchback?'

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a person who makes unnecessary excuses or points out their own flaws as a reason to avoid work, even when the flaw is obvious or irrelevant to the task at hand. It highlights a tendency to be overly self-conscious or lazy by using one's own well-known limitations as a shield.

Related Phrases

Though the tiger be hungry will it eat grass ?

This expression is used to describe a person's inherent nature or integrity. It suggests that a person of high principles or specific traits will not compromise their character or stoop to low levels even when faced with extreme hardship or desperate situations.

When he thought of putting an end to himself, his soul said within him "Let us wait until Sunday and all drown together." The word "All" refers to the elements of which man is composed.

This proverb highlights procrastination or the tendency to delay an unpleasant or difficult task by suggesting a later time or involving more people to avoid immediate action. It is used to mock someone who makes excuses or tries to turn a personal responsibility into a group event to stall for time.

Sunday is a propitious day. Judge well before you act. Consideration is the parent of wisdom.

When asked to go to war, one replied let's eat a fruit and then go.

This proverb describes a person who is lazy, hesitant, or makes excuses to delay an urgent or difficult task. It highlights the contrast between the seriousness of a situation (preparing for war) and a trivial or self-indulgent delay (eating a fruit).

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.

When asked which way, saying Godavari.

This expression describes a situation where someone gives an irrelevant, nonsensical, or rhyming answer to a question instead of providing the actual information requested. It highlights a lack of connection between the question asked and the response given, often used when someone is being evasive or is completely lost in conversation.

Like applying butter to the mouth of a cat with a burnt backside

This expression is used to describe someone who is extremely restless, impatient, or constantly on the move because of a problem they are facing, while someone else offers a superficial or irrelevant solution. It can also refer to a person who is in a frantic state of agitation and cannot stay in one place.

A flatbread as big as a cross-wall, and chutney as large as a haystack.

This expression is used to describe a person who has a massive appetite or is extremely greedy for food. It is also used to humorously comment on situations where the quantity of food prepared or served is excessively large.

If the wind is limping, calling it a horse.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone makes an absurd or highly exaggerated claim that defies common sense. It highlights the tendency of some people to give grand names or qualities to things that are fundamentally weak, broken, or non-existent.

Mother, whatever four morsels you give, give them early; the calf needs to go for grazing.

This proverb is used to describe someone who tries to sound helpful or dutiful while actually being impatient or demanding for their own needs. It highlights a person making excuses or using a seemingly valid reason (like the calf needing to graze) just to get what they want faster.

When the daughter-in-law said, 'Mother-in-law, come let us jump into the well', the mother-in-law replied, 'Let us all jump on Sunday'.

This proverb is used to describe procrastination or the act of postponing a task (often an unpleasant or impulsive one) by setting a specific future date. It highlights how people use logic or scheduling to delay actions they aren't truly committed to, or simply the habit of turning a private matter into a public event to avoid immediate execution.