కాకుల్లో తెలుపు, అల్లుళ్ళలో మంచి ఉండదు.

kakullo telupu, allullalo manchi undadu.

Translation

There is no white among crows, and there is no goodness among sons-in-law.

Meaning

This is a traditional Telugu proverb used to humorously or cynically express the idea that certain things are inherently impossible or rare. Just as it is impossible to find a white crow in nature, the saying suggests that finding a perfectly selfless or trouble-free son-in-law (who doesn't demand special treatment or cause friction) is equally unlikely. It is often used in family contexts to describe the demanding nature of sons-in-law in traditional society.

Related Phrases

Two blacks cannot come together to make one white

This proverb is the Telugu equivalent of 'Two wrongs don't make a right.' It suggests that combining two negative actions, lies, or mistakes will not result in a positive outcome or the truth.

Like people from various food sources becoming leaders.

This proverb refers to a situation where people from diverse, often humble or unrelated backgrounds, come together and suddenly assume positions of authority or leadership. It is often used to describe a disorganized group of people who have gained power or status without the traditional qualifications or a cohesive background, sometimes implying a lack of genuine unity or merit.

In a village without a god, the leg of a cot is the guardian deity.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where, in the absence of a competent leader or a superior authority, an insignificant or incompetent person assumes control and acts as if they are powerful. It highlights how mediocrity shines when there is no true excellence present.

The one who has an ox lacks intelligence, and the one who has intelligence lacks an ox.

This proverb describes a situational irony where one person possesses the physical resources or tools but lacks the wisdom to use them, while another person has the knowledge but lacks the necessary resources. It is used to highlight the mismatch between ability and opportunity.

Is a crow white or is leather white anywhere?

This expression is used to highlight an impossible or unnatural situation. Just as a crow can never be white and leather is inherently dark, certain truths or character traits cannot be changed no matter how much one tries to pretend otherwise.

A farm located right in front of the village belongs to the crows.

This proverb highlights that assets or properties that are easily accessible to everyone often end up being wasted, damaged, or stolen because they cannot be properly guarded. Just as a field near a village is easily picked over by birds before the owner can harvest it, things that lack privacy or protection are prone to exploitation.

The swelling of a widow and the whiteness of an anemic patient.

This proverb is used to describe deceptive or superficial appearances that look positive but are actually signs of underlying distress or ill health. Just as a widow's swelling (due to grief or poor health) is not a sign of being well-fed, and an anemic person's paleness is not the same as a healthy fair complexion, it warns against mistaking a bad situation for a good one based on surface-level observations.

Mallu is a great man among the weavers. Great among low people. Among the common people Scoggin is a doctor.

This proverb is used to mock someone who tries to sound superior or important in a group where everyone is essentially of the same status or rank. It highlights a false sense of hierarchy or self-importance among equals.

A good onion has a good navel (core).

This proverb is used to describe something or someone that is of high quality both inside and out. Just as the quality of an onion is determined by its core, the character of a person or the integrity of a thing is judged by its inner essence. It suggests that true quality is consistent throughout.

Do pearls grow in snail shells?

This proverb is used to suggest that noble qualities or valuable results cannot be expected from someone who lacks character or from a source that is inherently mediocre. It emphasizes that greatness (pearls) comes from a specific noble source (oysters), not from common ones (snails).