కాదు కాదు అంటే నాది నాది అన్నాడట.

kadu kadu ante nadi nadi annadata.

Translation

When one said "Kādu, Kādu" the other said "Nādi, Nādi."

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where someone persistently tries to claim ownership or credit for something even after being explicitly told it doesn't belong to them or is incorrect. It is used to mock people who are shamelessly stubborn or opportunistic despite being rejected.

Notes

Kādu in Telugu means " it is not," "no;" in Tamil it signifies " the ear." A Telugu man on one occasion accidentally stuck the barb of his spear into a Tamilian's ear, on which the latter cried out "Kādu! Kādu!" ( My ear! my ear! ) The Telugu man thinking he meant to say " Not yours, not yours" pulled at the spear all the harder, saying "Nādi! Nādi!" (It's mine! it's mine!). Said to a man who is obstinate in argument.

Related Phrases

When she said "O Reddi! your buffalo has calved," he replied "O Boddi! what's that to you?" The woman wanted some milk.

This proverb is used to tell people to mind their own business or to highlight that a particular piece of news or event has no relevance or benefit to the person reacting to it. It mocks those who get unnecessarily excited or involved in matters that do not concern them.

When given what was owed, he claimed he never said no to the village accountant (Karanam).

This proverb is used to describe a person who is uncooperative, stubborn, or evasive about a commitment, but immediately changes their tone and pretends they were always willing to comply once they receive an incentive or are held accountable. It highlights hypocrisy and opportunistic behavior.

When asked, 'You donkey! Why do you give birth every year?', it replied, 'If I get angry, I will give birth in the middle of the year too.'

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person, when questioned about their mistakes or undesirable repetitive behavior, responds with defiance or a threat to do even worse instead of rectifying themselves. It highlights stubbornness and a lack of remorse.

When one said 'No, no', the other said 'It's mine, it's mine'.

This expression is used to describe someone who is extremely greedy or opportunistic. It refers to a situation where a person tries to claim ownership of something even when others are denying it belongs to them or trying to distance themselves from it. It highlights a tendency to grab everything available without considering whether it is appropriate or right.

When asked why he was washing his hair on Ekadashi, he said it's a daily ritual he started today; when asked the next day why he wasn't washing it, he said the ritual ended yesterday.

This proverb is used to describe a lazy or hypocritical person who makes up convenient excuses on the spot to justify their actions. It mocks people who pretend to follow strict rules or vows only when it suits them, and immediately abandon them when it requires actual effort or consistency.

" Timmanna! Timmanna! I salute you" cried one—"How do you know my name?" said the other. "I knew it directly I saw your face" replied the first.

This proverb is used to mock someone who tries to act clever by stating the obvious or using circular logic. Thimmanna is a generic name often used for a monkey; seeing a monkey's face makes it obvious it's a 'Thimmanna'. It describes a situation where a person provides a silly or self-evident explanation for something as if it were a great insight.

When asked, 'Wash your feet, Sayyid Ali,' he replied, 'By God, I have already licked them clean.'

This proverb describes a situation where someone performs a task in a crude, improper, or counterproductive manner instead of doing it the right way. It is used to mock people who are unhygienic, lazy, or lack common sense in how they approach a simple request.

When father dies, the shared shawl belongs to me, he said.

This proverb describes a person who is extremely selfish and greedy, thinking only about personal gain even during a tragic situation like a parent's death. It is used to criticize someone who prioritizes trivial material possessions over relationships or mourning.

Neither did the mother-in-law say yes, nor did the daughter-in-law say no.

This expression describes a state of total agreement or perfect harmony between two parties. It is often used to describe situations where there is no conflict, or conversely, used sarcastically to describe a situation where no progress is being made because no one is taking a definitive stand or challenging the other.

What he dances is a dance, what he sings is a song.

This expression is used to describe a person who holds absolute power, influence, or authority in a particular situation. It implies that the person can do whatever they want without any opposition, and others must follow their rules or whims.