లేచినాడోయ్ మగధీరుడు అంటే, అందుకు కాదులే అల్పాచమనాని కన్నాడట
lechinadoy magadhirudu ante, anduku kadule alpachamanani kannadata
When someone shouted, 'The great warrior has risen!', he replied, 'No, it's just to go relieve myself.'
This expression is used to mock someone who is being overly praised or built up as a hero, but in reality, their actions are motivated by very trivial or mundane needs. It highlights the gap between grand expectations and disappointing reality.
Related Phrases
ఇచ్చింది ఇస్తే, కరణాన్ని కాదు అన్నాడట
ichchindi iste, karananni kadu annadata
When given what was owed, he claimed he never said no to the village accountant (Karanam).
This proverb is used to describe a person who is uncooperative, stubborn, or evasive about a commitment, but immediately changes their tone and pretends they were always willing to comply once they receive an incentive or are held accountable. It highlights hypocrisy and opportunistic behavior.
కనుక్కొన్నాడోయ్ కంబట్లో వెంట్రుకలు అన్నట్లు.
kanukkonnadoy kambatlo ventrukalu annatlu.
Like saying 'I found them! Hairs in a woolen blanket.'
This proverb is used to mock someone who claims to have made a great discovery or solved a complex mystery, when in reality, what they found was obvious, inevitable, or insignificant. Since a woolen blanket (kambali) is naturally made of fibers/hair, 'finding' hair in it is not an achievement at all.
వగలేని మొగుడా పగలెందుకు వచ్చినావంటే, అందుకు కాదులే అగ్గికి వచ్చినా నన్నాడట.
vagaleni moguda pagalenduku vachchinavante, anduku kadule aggiki vachchina nannadata.
When she asked, 'O husband with no charm, why did you come during the day?', he replied, 'Not for that, I just came for some fire.'
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone tries to hide their true intentions or feelings with a silly or weak excuse after being snubbed or rejected. It highlights awkward attempts to save face when one's presence or actions are questioned.
కుక్క తోక వంకర, ఎంతటికీ గుణము మానను అన్నదట.
kukka toka vankara, entatiki gunamu mananu annadata.
A dog's tail is crooked; it said it won't change its nature.
This expression is used to describe a person who refuses to change their inherent bad habits or character, regardless of how much advice they receive or how much effort is made to reform them. It is similar to the English proverb 'A leopard cannot change its spots'.
కాదు కాదు అంటే నాది నాది అన్నాడట.
kadu kadu ante nadi nadi annadata.
When one said "Kādu, Kādu" the other said "Nādi, Nādi."
This proverb describes a situation where someone persistently tries to claim ownership or credit for something even after being explicitly told it doesn't belong to them or is incorrect. It is used to mock people who are shamelessly stubborn or opportunistic despite being rejected.
Kādu in Telugu means " it is not," "no;" in Tamil it signifies " the ear." A Telugu man on one occasion accidentally stuck the barb of his spear into a Tamilian's ear, on which the latter cried out "Kādu! Kādu!" ( My ear! my ear! ) The Telugu man thinking he meant to say " Not yours, not yours" pulled at the spear all the harder, saying "Nādi! Nādi!" (It's mine! it's mine!). Said to a man who is obstinate in argument.
నందుకు ఏడుస్తున్నాను అన్నదట.
nanduku edustunnanu annadata.
She said she was crying for 'Nandu'.
This phrase is used to describe a situation where someone is pretending to be sad or upset for a noble reason, while their true motive is hidden or entirely different. It highlights hypocrisy or deceptive behavior.
లేచిపోతూ అత్తా నీ కొడుకు ఆకలితో ఉన్నాడు అన్నదట.
lechipotu atta ni koduku akalito unnadu annadata.
While eloping, she supposedly said, 'Mother-in-law, your son is hungry.'
This proverb is used to describe a person who pretends to show concern or righteousness while committing a major betrayal or act of misconduct. It highlights the hypocrisy of someone performing a minor 'duty' or showing fake care while simultaneously causing great harm or dishonor to the family.
బావా నీ భార్య ముండమోసిందోయ్ అంటే, మొర్రో అని ఏడ్చాడట
bava ni bharya mundamosindoy ante, morro ani edchadata
When his brother-in-law said to him "O brother-in-law! your wife has become a widow," he cried bitterly. Said of a blockhead.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks the basic common sense to realize that if his wife is a widow, it implies that he himself is dead. It is used to mock someone who reacts blindly or emotionally to a statement without thinking about the logic or the impossibility of the situation.
ఎందుకొచ్చినావే ఎల్లమ్మా అంటే అందుకు కాదులే అగ్గికొచ్చాను అన్నదట.
endukochchinave ellamma ante anduku kadule aggikochchanu annadata.
When asked, 'Why did you come, Ellamma?', she replied, 'Not for that, I just came for some fire.'
This proverb is used to describe someone who tries to hide their true motive or a guilty conscience by giving a trivial, unrelated excuse. It typically refers to a situation where someone is caught in an awkward position or unwanted visit and makes up a weak reason to justify their presence.
ఉంచుకున్నవాడు మగడు కాడు, పెంచుకున్నవాడు కొడుకు కాడు
unchukunnavadu magadu kadu, penchukunnavadu koduku kadu
The man one keeps is not a husband, the child one raises is not a son.
This proverb reflects traditional social views on legitimacy and formal bonds. It suggests that informal relationships or foster care do not equate to the legal and social status of a marriage or biological lineage. It is often used to emphasize that titles or roles earned through convenience or temporary arrangements lack the permanence and sanctity of formal, recognized institutions.