కుక్క తోక వంకర, ఎంతటికీ గుణము మానను అన్నదట.
kukka toka vankara, entatiki gunamu mananu annadata.
A dog's tail is crooked; it said it won't change its nature.
This expression is used to describe a person who refuses to change their inherent bad habits or character, regardless of how much advice they receive or how much effort is made to reform them. It is similar to the English proverb 'A leopard cannot change its spots'.
Related Phrases
చదువుల మర్మమంతా చదివినాను అన్నాడట
chaduvula marmamanta chadivinanu annadata
I have become acquainted with all the secret mysteries of learning. The allusion is to the story of Prahlâda son of Hiranyakaśipa. The words of the Proverb are found in the Telugu translation of the Bhâgavata Purâṇa, (but not in the Sanscrit original,) as having been used by Prahlâda to his father.—(See Vishnu Purâṇa Book I, Chapters 17—20.) Said of a man who pretends to be learned.
This expression is used to mock someone who boasts about having complete knowledge or mastery over a subject, often used in a sarcastic context when the person's actions or actual knowledge suggest otherwise. It highlights overconfidence and pretentious behavior regarding one's learning.
పాలబుట్టితే మాత్రము మేలు గుణము కలుగునా?
palabuttite matramu melu gunamu kaluguna?
Does every thing that comes from milk possess good qua- lities? Good qualities are not always possessed by people of high birth.
This expression implies that noble birth or being born into a wealthy or virtuous family does not automatically guarantee that a person will possess good character or virtues. It emphasizes that character is determined by one's own nature and actions rather than lineage.
నందుకు ఏడుస్తున్నాను అన్నదట.
nanduku edustunnanu annadata.
She said she was crying for 'Nandu'.
This phrase is used to describe a situation where someone is pretending to be sad or upset for a noble reason, while their true motive is hidden or entirely different. It highlights hypocrisy or deceptive behavior.
మిండగాని జూచి గుండములో పడతాను అన్నదట
mindagani juchi gundamulo padatanu annadata
Seeing her paramour, she said she would jump into the fire pit.
This expression describes a situation where someone performs a dramatic, hypocritical act of devotion or sacrifice only when an audience (specifically someone they want to impress) is watching. It is used to mock fake sincerity or theatrical displays of loyalty that lack true substance.
గుణము మానవే గూటాల పోలీ అంటే, నా మనువయినా మానుతాను గానీ నా గుణము మానను అన్నదట
gunamu manave gutala poli ante, na manuvayina manutanu gani na gunamu mananu annadata
When Gūṭāla Pōli was told to amend her ways, she said she would rather break off the match. Obstinate behaviour. Stubborn conduct.
This proverb describes a stubborn person who refuses to change their inherent nature or bad habits, even if it costs them their most important relationships or well-being. It is used to highlight that a person's basic temperament is often unchangeable, regardless of the consequences.
* Chi ha testa di vetro non faocia a' sass. † Il cico non des giudicar del colori.
లేవదీయరా తంతాను అన్నాడట
levadiyara tantanu annadata
He said, 'Lift me up, and I will kick you'
This expression describes a person who is ungrateful or arrogant even when they are in a helpless position. It refers to a situation where someone who is down and needs help to get up is still threatening the person helping them. It is used to mock people who show attitude despite their own vulnerability or those who return a favor with harm.
నీ పెళ్ళాం ముండమోస్తే, నీకు ఎవరు అన్నం వండి పెడతారు అన్నాడట?
ni pellam mundamoste, niku evaru annam vandi pedataru annadata?
If your wife becomes a widow, who will cook for you ?
This proverb describes a person with a complete lack of common sense or intelligence. It highlights a logical fallacy where the speaker fails to realize that for a wife to become a widow, the husband (to whom he is speaking) must be dead first, making the question of his future meals irrelevant and absurd.
* Heden in fåuur, morgen in het graf, 7
ఎవరు ఇచ్చినది ఈ మాన్యము అంటే, నేనే ఇచ్చుకున్నాను అన్నాడట.
evaru ichchinadi i manyamu ante, nene ichchukunnanu annadata.
When asked " Who gave you the freehold?" he said " I gave it to myself." Said of one who helps himself without regard to the law of meum and tuum.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks legitimate authority or external validation and instead relies on self-proclamations or self-awarded honors. It mocks those who boast about achievements or titles they have unilaterally claimed without any basis in truth or merit.
ఒకడు మునిగిపోతూ ఉంటే, ఇంకొకడు ఈత వచ్చా అని అడిగితే, వాడు మునిగిపోతూ కూడా వచ్చు అన్నాడట.
okadu munigipotu unte, inkokadu ita vachcha ani adigite, vadu munigipotu kuda vachchu annadata.
When one was drowning and another asked if he knew how to swim, he replied 'I know' even while sinking.
This expression is used to mock someone who is too proud to admit their failure or lack of knowledge even when they are in a desperate or losing situation. It highlights the foolishness of maintaining a false ego while facing total ruin.
చెడేవాడు అబ్బడున్నాడు, మరీ పిడికెడు తేరా దానము చేస్తాను అన్నాడట
chedevadu abbadunnadu, mari pidikedu tera danamu chestanu annadata
It is Abbaḍu who will be ruined, bring me another handful [of money,] I will give it in alms.
This proverb describes a person who, despite being on the verge of bankruptcy or total ruin, continues to act recklessly and extravagantly. It is used to mock someone who shows false generosity or wastes resources they no longer possess, illustrating that their poor judgment is what led to their downfall in the first place.
Abbaḍu is a familiar term applied to a lad. Hens are ay free o' horse corn. (Scotch.)