కూడు, గుడ్డా అడక్కపోతే, బిడ్డను సాకినట్టు సాకుతానన్నాడట
kudu, gudda adakkapote, biddanu sakinattu sakutanannadata
If you don't ask for food and clothing, I will raise you like my own child, he said.
This is a sarcastic proverb used to describe people who offer help or patronage while placing impossible conditions that defeat the purpose of the help itself. It mocks those who promise care but refuse to provide basic necessities like food and clothing. It is used when someone offers a deal that is entirely one-sided or hypocritical.
Related Phrases
ఎవరికో పుట్టిన బిడ్డను తన బిడ్డని ఎగిరెగిరి ముద్దుపెట్టుకున్నట్లు
evariko puttina biddanu tana biddani egiregiri muddupettukunnatlu
Like jumping and kissing someone else's child as if they were one's own.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone takes undue credit or feels excessive pride and excitement for something they did not create or achieve themselves. It highlights the absurdity of claiming ownership or being overly enthusiastic about someone else's hard work or success.
అడిగితే చిరాకు, అడగకపోతే పరాకు
adigite chiraku, adagakapote paraku
If asked, it is irritation; if not asked, it is negligence.
This proverb describes a difficult person or situation where any action leads to a negative outcome. If you ask for something or check in, they get annoyed (irritation), but if you stay quiet, they complain that you are ignoring them or being careless (negligence/paraku).
అయితే ఆడబిడ్డ, కాకుంటే మొగబిడ్డ అన్నాడట
ayite adabidda, kakunte mogabidda annadata
He said 'If it happens, it's a girl; if not, it's a boy'
This proverb is used to mock someone who makes an obvious or inevitable prediction that covers all possible outcomes. It describes a situation where a person states the obvious as if it were a profound insight, or takes a stance where they cannot be proven wrong because they have accounted for every alternative.
కరువులో బిడ్డను అమ్ముకొన్నట్టు
karuvulo biddanu ammukonnattu
Like selling a child in a famine. Selling in a bad market.
This expression is used to describe a state of extreme desperation or dire necessity where someone is forced to give up something incredibly precious or vital just to survive a crisis. It highlights a situation where there are no good choices left and one must make a heartbreaking sacrifice.
కక్కిన బిడ్డ దక్కుతుంది
kakkina bidda dakkutundi
A child who vomits will survive (thrive)
This is a traditional Telugu saying used by elders to reassure worried parents when an infant spits up milk. It suggests that vomiting is a sign of a healthy appetite or overfeeding, and implies that the child is growing well and will remain healthy.
కూడు పెట్టడు, గుడ్డ ఇవ్వడు, నామీద ప్రాణమే అన్నట్లు
kudu pettadu, gudda ivvadu, namida praname annatlu
He won't provide food, he won't provide clothes, but he says he loves me to death.
This expression is used to describe people who offer empty words of affection or grand promises without providing any actual help or fulfilling basic responsibilities. It highlights the hypocrisy of someone claiming to care deeply while neglecting the person's fundamental needs.
దొంగకు తోడు, దొరకు సాక్షి
dongaku todu, doraku sakshi
A companion to the thief, a witness for the lord.
This expression is used to describe a person who plays both sides or colludes in a crime. It refers to someone who assists a criminal (thief) in their act while simultaneously acting as a false witness to the authority (lord) to cover up the crime or mislead the investigation.
కూడూ గుడ్డా అడగక పోతే, బిడ్డను సాకినట్టు సాకుతాను అన్నాడట
kudu gudda adagaka pote, biddanu sakinattu sakutanu annadata
If you don't ask me for food and raiment I will care for you as my own child.
This is a sarcastic proverb used to describe someone who offers help or a deal that is fundamentally impossible or hypocritical. Since 'taking care' of someone inherently requires providing food and clothing, promising to do so only on the condition that they don't ask for those essentials is nonsensical. It is used when someone places conditions that negate the very purpose of the support they are offering.
Good words and no decds are rushes and reeds. Fair words butter no parsnips.
ఉండలేక పోతే, బొండను వెయ్యమన్నాడట.
undaleka pote, bondanu veyyamannadata.
If he can't keep quiet, put him in the stocks.
This expression is used to describe someone who makes extreme, irrational, or self-destructive decisions when faced with minor discomfort or temporary problems. It highlights the tendency to overreact or choose a permanent 'solution' to a temporary situation.
బిడ్డ బావిలో పడ్డాడంటే, చద్దికూడు తిని వస్తానన్నాడట
bidda bavilo paddadante, chaddikudu tini vastanannadata
When told the child fell into the well, he said he would come after eating his leftovers.
This proverb describes someone who is extremely lazy, indifferent, or lacks a sense of urgency even in life-threatening or critical situations. It is used to criticize people who prioritize trivial personal comforts over immediate, serious responsibilities.