కుక్కకు ఏ వేషం వేసినా, మొరగక మానదు.
kukkaku e vesham vesina, moragaka manadu.
No matter what costume you put on a dog, it will not stop barking.
This proverb suggests that a person's true nature or inherent character cannot be hidden or changed, no matter how much they try to mask it with external appearances or status. It is used to describe situations where someone eventually reveals their true (often negative) traits despite attempts to behave differently.
Related Phrases
ఎవరి కొంప తీయడానికి ఈ జంగం వేషం వేశావు?
evari kompa tiyadaniki i jangam vesham veshavu?
To ruin whom are you disguised as a Jangam? . Said to an impostor.
This expression is used to question someone's true intentions when they are acting deceptively or pretending to be someone they are not. It implies that the person has put on a 'mask' or a fake persona specifically to cheat, betray, or cause significant loss (ruining the 'homestead') to another person.
చచ్చేకాలానికి సత్యభామవేషం వేసినట్లు
chachchekalaniki satyabhamavesham vesinatlu
Like donning the role of Satyabhama at the time of death
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone attempts a grand, elaborate, or vanity-driven task at a stage when it is either too late or completely inappropriate given their circumstances. It refers to misplaced priorities or trying to maintain appearances when facing a crisis or end.
వేలుకు వేస్తే కాలికి, కాలికి వేస్తే వేలికి.
veluku veste kaliki, kaliki veste veliki.
If put on the finger it goes to the toe, and if put on the toe it goes to the finger.
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely manipulative, inconsistent, or shifty in their speech. It refers to someone who changes their story or logic constantly to suit their convenience, making it impossible to pin them down to a single fact or commitment.
కన్నం వేసిన దొంగకు తేలు కుట్టినట్టు
kannam vesina dongaku telu kuttinattu
Like a thief getting stung by a scorpion while breaking into a house
This proverb describes a situation where a person performing an illegal or unethical act meets with an unexpected problem or pain, but cannot cry out for help or complain because doing so would reveal their own wrongdoing. It is used to describe a predicament where someone must suffer in silence due to their own secret faults.
పూచిన తంగేడు వేసినా, కాచిన వెంపలి వేసినా, నేను పండుతానన్నదట వరి.
puchina tangedu vesina, kachina vempali vesina, nenu pandutanannadata vari.
Whether you apply blooming Tangedu or fruiting Vempali (as manure), the paddy crop says it will yield a bountiful harvest.
This proverb highlights the traditional agricultural wisdom of using green leaf manure. Tangedu (Tanner's Cassia) and Vempali (Wild Indigo) are excellent natural fertilizers. The saying emphasizes that if the soil is nourished with these specific organic materials, a high-quality rice yield is guaranteed regardless of other challenges.
చచ్చే కాలానికి సత్యభామ వేషం వేసినట్టు.
chachche kalaniki satyabhama vesham vesinattu.
Like playing the role of Satyabhama during one's dying days.
This proverb describes someone starting a new, demanding, or flamboyant venture at an inappropriate time, particularly when they are nearing the end of their career or life. It is used to mock people who attempt tasks that no longer suit their age, health, or circumstances.
సత్యభామ వేషం వేసి ఒక్కసారి చస్తానన్నాడట
satyabhama vesham vesi okkasari chastanannadata
He said he would die just once after dressing up as Satyabhama.
This expression is used to describe a person who is obsessed with a particular desire or goal to an extreme or irrational degree, often ignoring practical consequences just to satisfy a long-held whim or to experience a moment of glory.
ముసలి కుక్కలు ఊరకే మొరగవు
musali kukkalu urake moragavu
Old dogs do not bark without a reason.
This proverb is used to suggest that when an experienced or elderly person gives a warning or makes a statement, it is usually based on wisdom and valid reasons rather than being a baseless claim. It emphasizes respecting the intuition and foresight of the experienced.
కుక్క వేషము వేస్తే, మొరగకుండా ఉండలేము
kukka veshamu veste, moragakunda undalemu
If you assume the disguise of a dog, you must bark. In for a penny, in for a pound.
This proverb suggests that if you take on a certain role or persona, you are bound to act according to the nature of that role. It is often used to describe situations where a person's behavior is dictated by their current circumstances or the identity they have adopted, implying that one must fully commit to the characteristics of the part they are playing.
దొంగవాకిట మంచం వేసినట్లు
dongavakita mancham vesinatlu
Like placing a cot at a thief's entrance.
This expression describes a futile or counterproductive action. It refers to a situation where one tries to guard or protect something by being in a place where the danger is already present or inevitable. It implies that the effort is useless because the 'thief' (problem) is already right there or the setup is ill-conceived.