కులానికి సొడ్డు అంటే, చిన్నప్పదే వేటు పడ్డాను అన్నట్లు
kulaniki soddu ante, chinnappade vetu paddanu annatlu
When it was said there is a flaw in the caste, he replied 'I was struck during childhood'
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone gives an irrelevant or trivial personal excuse when a serious, collective, or structural issue is being discussed. It highlights the behavior of people who miss the point of a larger conversation by focusing on their own unrelated petty grievances.
Related Phrases
నీ కులానికి సొడ్డంటే, చిన్నప్పుడే వదిలివేసినా అన్నదట.
ni kulaniki soddante, chinnappude vadilivesina annadata.
When told that a squint is a flaw in her caste, she replied she had left it behind in her childhood.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone tries to brush off a significant inherent flaw or a permanent mistake as a minor thing of the past. It highlights the absurdity of making excuses for something that is obvious and unchangeable.
వంకర టింకర కాయలు ఏమిటివి అంటే, చిన్ననాడు అమ్మిన చింతకాయలు అన్నాడట
vankara tinkara kayalu emitivi ante, chinnanadu ammina chintakayalu annadata
When she asked "What are those crooked pods?" they re- plied "The unripe tamarinds you sold in your youth." The story goes that the daughter of very poor parents who in her youth had to go about selling the unripe tamarinds she was able to gather from under the trees, afterwards became the wife of a rich man. Passing through the streets one day in her grand palankin, she superciliously enquired what a tamarind girl was selling, when her bearers replied as above, "These are the tamarinds Madam, which you sold in your youth." To take one a peg lower. You used to be a baker though now you wear gloves. (Spanish.)
This proverb is used to describe someone who tries to justify their current mistakes or poor behavior by linking them to past habits or experiences. It also mocks people who give obvious or silly explanations for things that are common knowledge, pretending as if they have discovered something unique.
ఎత్తుపడ్డ గొడ్డు పులికి జడుస్తుందా?
ettupadda goddu puliki jadustunda?
Is a bullock which has fallen down from fatigue afraid of a tiger ? Resignation to one's fate through utter helplessness.
This proverb describes a situation where someone who has already lost everything or is in an extreme state of suffering no longer fears further threats or consequences. It is used to indicate that when a person is at their lowest point or has nothing left to lose, intimidation no longer works on them.
ప్రాణమున్నప్పుడే పంతాలు నెరవేరుతాయి
pranamunnappude pantalu neraverutayi
Challenges (or vows) are fulfilled only as long as there is life.
This expression emphasizes that ego, competition, and the pursuit of goals are only relevant while a person is alive. It is often used as a reminder to prioritize life, health, or harmony over stubbornness and rivalry, suggesting that once life is gone, none of these conflicts matter.
చాలీచాలని దానికి చాకలి సంతు అన్నట్లు
chalichalani daniki chakali santu annatlu
Like a washerman's children for a garment that is already too small.
This proverb describes a situation where resources are already scarce, and then a new, unnecessary burden is added. It refers to how a washerman's family might wear the clothes given for washing, further wearing out garments that were already insufficient or tight for the original owner.
న్యాయానికంటే మా చిన్నాయనను తోలుకొస్తాను అన్నట్లు
nyayanikante ma chinnayananu tolukostanu annatlu
Instead of seeking justice, I will bring my uncle.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person, instead of presenting a logical argument or following a fair process, relies on influence, muscle power, or family connections to settle a matter. It highlights the tendency of some people to ignore the rules of law or fairness in favor of personal backup or intimidation.
నూరు అప్పడాలకి ఒకటే దెబ్బ
nuru appadalaki okate debba
One blow for a hundred papadums
This proverb is used when a single significant action or outcome compensates for many small efforts, or when a long-standing issue is resolved with one decisive stroke. It implies that instead of dealing with many small items individually, one powerful act can finish them all at once.
ఇద్దరికీ శివం వస్తే ఇల్లేమి కాను అంటే, తడికెకు గుసిపెట్టాను దానికేమి పర్వాలేదు అందట
iddariki shivam vaste illemi kanu ante, tadikeku gusipettanu danikemi parvaledu andata
When both got possessed and asked 'what will happen to the house?', the reply was 'I have propped a stick against the thatched screen, nothing will happen'.
This proverb describes a situation where the people responsible for a household or a task are both negligent or acting irresponsibly, yet they offer a flimsy, inadequate solution to a serious problem. It is used to mock people who ignore major risks while relying on useless or trivial precautions.
పిల్లను గిల్లి తొట్టె ఊపినట్లు, అడ్డాడ పడ్డదిరా అంటే ఉండు అంబలి తాగి వస్తానన్నట్లు
pillanu gilli totte upinatlu, addada paddadira ante undu ambali tagi vastanannatlu
Like pinching a child and then rocking the cradle; or like saying 'let me drink porridge first' when told a disaster has struck.
This expression combines two sentiments: first, being the secret cause of a problem while pretending to offer a solution (hypocrisy); second, showing extreme indifference or laziness when urgent action is required.
కులానికి ఇంత అంటే తలా గోరంత అన్నట్లు
kulaniki inta ante tala goranta annatlu
If you give a little to the whole community, each individual gets only a tiny bit like a fingernail.
This proverb is used to describe situations where a resource, when distributed among a very large group of people, results in each person receiving a negligible or insignificant amount. It highlights the dilution of benefits in over-crowded or large-scale distributions.