మా ఇంటాయనకు మగతనముంటే, పొరుగింటాయన పొందెందుకు
ma intayanaku magatanamunte, porugintayana pondenduku
If my husband had masculinity, why would I need the neighbor's company?
This is a bold proverb used to describe a situation where someone seeks external help or a substitute only because the person who is supposed to be responsible or capable is failing to fulfill their duty. It highlights that if one's own resources or people were effective, there would be no need to depend on outsiders.
Related Phrases
వాచినమ్మకు పాసినకూడు పెట్టితే, మా అత్త పరమాన్నము పెట్టిందని ఇరుగింట పొరుగింట చెప్పినదట
vachinammaku pasinakudu pettite, ma atta paramannamu pettindani iruginta poruginta cheppinadata
When an ill-treated daughter-in-law at last got some bad food from her mother-in-law, she told the neighbours she had been sumptuously fed. Real want is not dainty.
This proverb describes a person who is so deprived or in such a desperate situation that even the smallest, lowest-quality help feels like a massive luxury. It is used to highlight extreme gratitude born out of severe necessity, or sometimes to mock someone's lack of standards due to their poverty-stricken state.
వాచినమ్మకు పాచినకూడు పెడితే, మా అత్త పరమాన్నం పెట్టిందని ఇరుగింట పొరుగింట చెప్పిందట.
vachinammaku pachinakudu pedite, ma atta paramannam pettindani iruginta poruginta cheppindata.
When a starving woman was given stale food, she told the neighbors that her mother-in-law served her a royal feast.
This proverb describes a person who is so deprived or desperate that even the smallest, most insignificant favor feels like a grand gesture. It is used to highlight situations where someone's extreme need makes them overly grateful for something of very low value, or when someone tries to cover up their poor circumstances by glorifying a meager offering.
ఇరుగింటమ్మా పొరుగింటమ్మా మా యింటిఆయన గోడు చూడండి
irugintamma porugintamma ma yintiayana godu chudandi
O lady neighbours! see the conduct of my husband. Inviting the sympathy of those who cannot interfere.
This expression is used to mock someone who unnecessarily broadcasts their private family matters or domestic trivialities to the entire neighborhood to gain sympathy or attention. It highlights the tendency of some people to make a public spectacle of their personal problems.
పొరుగింటి బాన పాడి కంటే, తన ఇంటి గిద్ద పాడి మేలు
poruginti bana padi kante, tana inti gidda padi melu
The small measure of milk in one's own house is better than a large pot of milk in the neighbor's house.
This proverb emphasizes the value of self-reliance and ownership. It suggests that having a small amount of something that belongs to you is more reliable and beneficial than depending on a large amount that belongs to someone else. It is used to advise people to be content with what they own rather than looking at others' wealth.
పోడిమగల నాడె పొరుగింటి పొందు
podimagala nade poruginti pondu
A neighbor's friendship exists only as long as one is prosperous.
This proverb highlights the fickle nature of relationships based on social or financial status. It suggests that neighbors or associates are friendly and supportive only when you are wealthy or influential, but they may distance themselves or disappear when you face hardships.
అత్తతనంలో మంచితనం, ఆడంగిలో మగతనం ఉంటాయా?
attatanamlo manchitanam, adangilo magatanam untaya?
Is there goodness in mother-in-law-ship or masculinity in an effeminate person?
A cynical proverb suggesting that certain inherent natures or roles are unlikely to change. It implies that just as an effeminate man lacks true masculinity, a mother-in-law (in the traditional stereotypical sense) is unlikely to show genuine kindness toward her daughter-in-law. It is used to express skepticism about someone acting against their established character or role.
సీతారామాభ్యాం నమః అంటే, మా ఇంటాయన ఎదురుకాలేదా అన్నదట?
sitaramabhyam namah ante, ma intayana edurukaleda annadata?
When told 'Salutations to Sita and Rama', she asked 'Did my husband not come across you?'
This proverb describes a person who is so self-centered or ignorant that they interpret everything, even a general prayer or greeting, in the context of their own narrow personal life. It is used to mock someone who lacks general awareness and relates every conversation back to their own private matters.
ఆయనే ఉంటే మంగలి ఎందుకు?
ayane unte mangali enduku?
If he (the husband) were there, why would we need a barber?
This proverb is used to describe a situation where if the primary person or the necessary resource were available, one wouldn't have to seek an alternative or inferior help. It is often used to highlight a lack of self-sufficiency or the absence of a key person that forces one to depend on others.
నయానా భయానా
nayana bhayana
By mildness or severity. If one does not answer, the other must be tried.
This expression refers to a strategy of using both persuasion (friendly approach) and intimidation (threats) to get something done. It is equivalent to the English idiom 'by hook or by crook' or 'the carrot and the stick' approach.
మా ఇంటి ఆయన రాసింది మా ఇంటి ఆయనే చదవాలంటే, మా ఇంటి ఆయన రాసింది మా ఇంటి ఆయనే చదవలేడన్నదట ఇంకొకతె.
ma inti ayana rasindi ma inti ayane chadavalante, ma inti ayana rasindi ma inti ayane chadavaledannadata inkokate.
When one woman said only her husband could read what he wrote, another replied that even her husband couldn't read what he himself wrote.
This is a humorous Telugu proverb used to describe extremely illegible or bad handwriting. It mocks a situation where a person's writing is so poor that not even the author can decipher it later. It is used in contexts where someone tries to show off their unique skill or work, only to be outdone by someone else's even more chaotic or incompetent version.