మనిషి బొమ్మ వేసి కింద మనిషి అని ఎందుకు రాశావంటే, లేకుంటే కోతి అనుకుంటారన్నాడట.

manishi bomma vesi kinda manishi ani enduku rashavante, lekunte koti anukuntarannadata.

Translation

When asked why he wrote 'Human' under a drawing of a human, he said otherwise people would think it's a monkey.

Meaning

This expression is used to mock someone's poor skills, incompetence, or lack of clarity in their work. It highlights a situation where the quality of an outcome is so poor that it requires an explicit label or explanation to avoid being misunderstood for something completely different.

Related Phrases

There is no medicine for the bite of a man. The bite of an enraged man is said to be fatally poisonous.

This proverb refers to the malicious nature of human behavior, specifically betrayal, gossip, or cruelty. While there are remedies for snake bites or animal wounds, the damage caused by a person's words or actions can be irreparable and impossible to heal with physical medicine.

If there is a substitute person, there is a headache during the day.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where delegating a task to an incompetent or unreliable person causes more trouble and constant worry than doing the work oneself. It highlights that poor assistance can be more burdensome than no assistance at all.

Like saying, 'If I get up, I am not a human'

This expression describes a person who makes grand, empty boasts or threats while being lazy or inactive. It is used to mock someone who talks big about their capabilities or temper but fails to take any actual action.

The impurity of a great house and the lie of a gentleman are never known.

This proverb highlights that the flaws or misdeeds of influential, wealthy, or high-status individuals are often hidden from public view or suppressed by their reputation. It is used to describe how power and status can mask hypocrisy and dishonesty.

When asked why she slept with him, she replied, 'How can I say no when such an influential/great man grabs my hand?'

This satirical proverb is used to criticize people who justify their wrongdoings or lack of character by citing the high status or power of the person who led them astray. It mocks those who use 'politeness' or 'respect for authority' as a weak excuse for committing an immoral or inappropriate act.

No man is useless.

This expression is used to emphasize the dignity, value, and resilience of a human being. It suggests that a person should not be treated as something trivial, disposable, or easily crushed like a blade of grass. It is often used to assert one's self-respect or when reminding others to treat someone with the importance they deserve.

A demon can be born to a human, but a human will not be born to a demon.

This expression suggests that good people can sometimes have children with bad traits or wicked behavior (metaphorically 'demons'), but it is highly unlikely or impossible for truly evil or inherently cruel individuals to produce someone with saintly or humanistic qualities. It is often used to comment on lineage, upbringing, and the unpredictable nature of character inheritance.

A thief is but a man.

This expression is used to remind others that even someone who has done something wrong (like a thief) is still a human being deserving of basic dignity or human rights. It is often invoked to discourage excessive cruelty or over-the-top punishment, suggesting that one should not lose their own humanity while judging another's mistakes.

If I get up, I won't be a human; so just leave me in the corner and go.

This expression is used to describe an extremely lazy person who makes grand, empty threats or boasts of their power to avoid doing work. It mockingly portrays someone who claims they would be dangerously powerful if they ever stood up, but uses that as an excuse to remain idle and be served by others.

Will [calamity] come to a tree and not to a man? Human beings are more liable to injury than inanimate objects.

This proverb is used to offer comfort or perspective when someone is facing difficulties. It implies that challenges, illnesses, or problems are an inherent part of the human experience. Since a tree cannot experience or handle human struggles, it is natural and expected for humans to face them.