మంచినీటినీ, కన్న తల్లినీ ఎంచడం నేరం.
manchinitini, kanna tallini enchadam neram.
It is a crime to criticize (or measure) drinking water and one's own mother.
This proverb emphasizes gratitude and reverence towards life's essentials. It suggests that one should never find fault with or be ungrateful for water (which sustains life) and one's mother (who gives life), as they are considered sacred and beyond judgment.
Related Phrases
మన్ను తిని మంచినీళ్లు తాగినట్లు
mannu tini manchinillu taginatlu
Like drinking water after eating mud.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone performs a completely useless or harmful action and then tries to follow it up with something normal or helpful to cover it up. It signifies a futile attempt to rectify a foolish mistake or refers to an action that yields no benefit despite the effort.
కూడు తిని కులమెంచినట్లు
kudu tini kulamenchinatlu
Like eating someone's food and then questioning their caste.
This proverb is used to describe an ungrateful person who accepts help or hospitality from someone and then insults or criticizes them based on their background or social status. It highlights hypocrisy and lack of gratitude.
ఒక కంచాన తిని ఒక మంచాన పడుకునేవారు
oka kanchana tini oka manchana padukunevaru
Those who eat from the same plate and sleep on the same bed.
This expression is used to describe an extremely close, intimate, and inseparable relationship between people (usually friends or family). It signifies a bond characterized by total trust and shared lives.
ఎల్లిని మల్లిచేయు మల్లిని ఎల్లిచేయు
ellini mallicheyu mallini ellicheyu
Turning Elli into Malli and Malli into Elli
This expression describes the act of causing total confusion or manipulating facts to make things unrecognizable. It is used when someone twists the truth, swaps identities, or complicates a simple situation to the point where the original context is lost. Often used to describe cunning or deceptive behavior.
తన తల్లి చావుకన్నా పిన తల్లి చావు మేలు.
tana talli chavukanna pina talli chavu melu.
The death of an aunt is better than the death of a mother.
This proverb is used to highlight the difference in the magnitude of loss. It suggests that while any loss is unfortunate, the loss of someone closer or more essential (like a mother) is far more devastating than the loss of someone relatively less central (like a stepmother or aunt). It is often used to prioritize or compare two negative outcomes, indicating that one is comparatively more bearable than the other.
కన్న తల్లికి కంటతడి, చవతితల్లికి కన్నుకుట్టు
kanna talliki kantatadi, chavatitalliki kannukuttu
Tears for the birth mother, envy for the stepmother.
This proverb contrasts true empathy with jealousy. It implies that while a birth mother (or a true well-wisher) feels genuine sorrow for one's struggles, a stepmother (or a rival) feels envious of one's success or status. It is used to describe situations where some people are saddened by your pain while others are spiteful of your happiness.
ఒక కంచాన తిని ఒక మంచాన పడుకునేవారు
oka kanchana tini oka manchana padukunevaru
They eat of one dish and sleep on one bed.
This expression describes people who share an extremely close, intimate, and inseparable bond or friendship. It is often used to highlight the deep camaraderie and mutual trust between individuals who do everything together.
Extreme intimacy. They are hand and glove.
నల్లిని కొట్టి మంచానికి చేటు.
nallini kotti manchaniki chetu.
Beating a bedstead on account of the bugs.
This proverb describes a situation where the remedy is worse than the problem. It is used when someone's attempt to fix a small issue causes significant or disproportionate damage to the larger object or system.
తేరగా వచ్చింది తినితిని, మా తమ్ముడూ ఒకడున్నాడు అన్నట్లు.
teraga vachchindi tinitini, ma tammudu okadunnadu annatlu.
After eating everything that came for free, saying 'I also have a brother'.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is extremely selfish or greedy. It depicts a situation where someone enjoys a free meal or benefit entirely by themselves, and only mentions their family or others when everything is finished or when there is nothing left to share. It highlights hypocrisy and lack of genuine concern for others.
కన్న తల్లిని కాళ్లు పట్టి ఈడ్చి, పినతల్లికి పెట్టరా పిండప్రదానము అన్నట్టు.
kanna tallini kallu patti idchi, pinatalliki pettara pindapradanamu annattu.
Like pulling away your own mother by the legs and saying "Offer the rice-ball for the maternal aunt."
This proverb is used to describe a person who neglects their primary duties or the people who truly care for them, while performing grand, hypocritical acts of service for others or for outward appearances. It highlights the irony of being cruel to those who deserve love while pretending to be virtuous elsewhere.