కుక్క తోక వంకర తీర్చలేనివారు ఏటి వంకర తీర్చగలరా?
kukka toka vankara tirchalenivaru eti vankara tirchagalara?
Can those who cannot straighten a dog's tail straighten the bend of a river?
This proverb is used to mock people who attempt grand, impossible tasks when they have already failed at much smaller, simpler ones. It highlights the incompetence or overambition of an individual who cannot handle basic responsibilities yet claims to solve large-scale problems.
Related Phrases
ఏటి వంకలెవరు తీరుస్తారు? కుక్క తోక ఎవరు చక్కజేస్తారు?
eti vankalevaru tirustaru? kukka toka evaru chakkajestaru?
Who can straighten the curves of a river? Who can straighten a dog's tail?
This expression is used to describe a situation or a person's character that is inherently flawed or crooked and cannot be changed despite any amount of effort. It highlights the futility of trying to reform someone who is naturally stubborn or habitually prone to bad behavior.
నక్క వచ్చి కుక్క తోక సవరించినట్లు
nakka vachchi kukka toka savarinchinatlu
Like a fox coming to straighten a dog's tail.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where an unqualified person tries to fix something they don't understand, or when someone uses a deceptive or useless method to solve a problem. It implies that the intervention is both unnecessary and likely motivated by trickery, as a fox cannot truly 'fix' a dog's nature.
తలపాగా చుట్టలేక తల వంకర అన్నట్లు
talapaga chuttaleka tala vankara annatlu
Like saying the head is crooked because one doesn't know how to tie a turban
This expression describes a situation where someone blames external factors or others for their own lack of skill or failure. It is similar to the English proverb: 'A bad workman always blames his tools.'
ఆలి వంకవారు ఆత్మబంధువులు, తల్లి వంకవారు తగినవారు, తండ్రి వంకవారు దాయాదులు
ali vankavaru atmabandhuvulu, talli vankavaru taginavaru, tandri vankavaru dayadulu
Your wife's people are your own relations; your mother's people are distant relations; your father's people are enemies ( because they are co-heirs ). ( See Vēmana Book II, 32. )
This proverb reflects traditional social dynamics in family relationships. It suggests that a person feels closest to their wife's family (in-laws), considers their mother's side as respectable well-wishers, but views the father's side with caution or as competitors due to historical disputes over ancestral property and succession.
నలుపు నాలుగు వంకరలు చూపుతుంది, ఎరుపు ఏడు వంకరలు దాస్తుంది
nalupu nalugu vankaralu chuputundi, erupu edu vankaralu dastundi
Black reveals four curves, while red hides seven curves.
This traditional Telugu proverb highlights the visual properties of colors in relation to physical appearance. It suggests that darker colors (black) tend to emphasize flaws, bends, or physical imperfections in an object or person, whereas brighter colors (specifically red) can mask or hide many more imperfections, making things look more attractive or seamless than they actually are.
శంకరా శంకరా అంటే మూతి వంకర పోతుందాన్నట్లు
shankara shankara ante muti vankara potundannatlu
Just because you say 'Shankara Shankara', will your mouth become crooked?
This proverb is used to mock someone's irrational fear or superstition that performing a simple, good, or harmless act will lead to a ridiculous physical deformity or negative consequence. It is often used to encourage someone to stop making excuses and just do what is necessary.
వంకాయ వంటి కూరలేదు, శంకరుని వంటి దైవము లేదు
vankaya vanti kuraledu, shankaruni vanti daivamu ledu
There is no vegetable like the eggplant, and there is no God like Lord Shiva.
This is a popular Telugu saying used to emphasize the excellence or superiority of something. Just as the eggplant (Brinjal) is considered the 'king of vegetables' for its versatility and taste in Telugu cuisine, Lord Shiva is regarded as the supreme deity. It is used to highlight that certain things are incomparable in their respective categories.
ఆడలేక అంగణం వంకర అన్నట్లు
adaleka anganam vankara annatlu
Like saying the courtyard is crooked because one cannot dance.
This expression is used to describe a person who lacks skill or fails at a task, but blames external circumstances or their environment instead of admitting their own deficiency. It is the Telugu equivalent of the English proverb: 'A bad workman quarrels with his tools.'
అప్పవంక బావచుట్టము, ఆళ్లవంక తిరగలి చుట్టము.
appavanka bavachuttamu, allavanka tiragali chuttamu.
He is nothing to me but my sister's husband ; the millstone is only valued for the grain it grinds. Átṭu is the plural of Áruga ( Passalum Scrobiculatum ).
This proverb describes people who pretend to be relatives or close friends only when they want something or have a selfish motive. It mocks those who establish connections based on greed or immediate material gain rather than genuine affection.
కుక్క తోక ఎప్పుడూ వంకరే.
kukka toka eppudu vankare.
A dog's tail is always crooked.
This proverb is used to describe a person's ingrained nature or habits that cannot be changed despite any amount of effort, advice, or correction. It is equivalent to the English expression 'A leopard cannot change its spots.'