మాటలు నేర్చిన కుక్కను వేటకు పంపితే, వుజ్జో అంటే వుజ్జో అన్నదట.

matalu nerchina kukkanu vetaku pampite, vujjo ante vujjo annadata.

Translation

When "Hiss!" was said to the dog that had been taught to speak, "Hiss!" the dog replied. The consequence of too much petting or spoiling.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is all talk and no action. It refers to people who excel at verbal mimicry or theoretical knowledge but are completely useless or incompetent when it comes to performing the actual practical task. Instead of chasing the prey ('Ujjo' is a command to hunt), the dog simply repeats the command back.

Related Phrases

The grandson learnt his lesson, and the grandmother's itching was taken away. The grandmother made her grandson write the alphabet on her back. To kill two birds with one stone. To bring down two apples with one stick. (Dutch.)

This proverb describes a situation where a single action serves two purposes or benefits two people simultaneously. It specifically refers to a scenario where a task performed by a novice for practice (like a grandson learning to scratch or massage) happens to solve a problem or provide comfort to someone else (the grandmother). It is used when a win-win situation occurs, especially when one person's learning process fulfills another person's need.

Can you go hunting by catching a mad dog?

This proverb is used to illustrate that you cannot achieve a successful or noble outcome by relying on incompetent, unreliable, or unstable people. Just as a rabid or mad dog is unpredictable and cannot be trained for the discipline of hunting, an unfit person cannot be trusted to perform a specific task effectively.

The word spoken with learning is the word of an expert.

This expression emphasizes that knowledge and skill bring weight to one's words. It suggests that when someone speaks after truly learning or mastering a subject, their words carry authority and wisdom, distinguishing them as a capable or clever person (Neravaadi).

For the one who learned to have an illicit affair, the one who learned to lie is a companion.

This proverb describes how one bad habit or vice often leads to another. Specifically, it implies that to hide a significant misdeed, one must inevitably resort to lying. It is used to suggest that moral failings or deceptive behaviors usually go hand in hand.

While the dog that ate the food ran away, they tied up the dog that saw it happen.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where the actual culprit or wrongdoer escapes, and an innocent bystander or a witness is unfairly blamed or punished for the deed. It highlights a failure of justice or a mistake in identifying the true offender.

Learn to lie, then learn to support that lie.

This expression suggests that if one chooses to tell a lie, they must also have the cleverness and consistency to maintain it without getting caught. It is used to remark on the complexity of deception and the need for a 'logical cover' when being dishonest.

Like saying which king for which kingdom

This expression is used to describe a situation where the quality or nature of a leader (or outcome) is perfectly matched to the nature of the people (or circumstances). It often implies that a group of people gets the kind of leadership or consequences they deserve based on their own behavior or character.

When the dog which had eaten [ the food ] ran off, he caught hold of another dog and broke its leg. Making the innocent suffer for the guilty.

This proverb describes a situation where the actual culprit escapes, and an innocent person who happens to be nearby is punished for the crime. It is used to highlight injustice or a lapse in judgement where the wrong person is held accountable for someone else's mistake.

Like the grandson learning and the grandmother's itch being relieved.

This proverb describes a situation that serves two purposes or benefits two people simultaneously. It refers to a grandmother teaching her grandson how to scratch her back; while the boy learns a task, the grandmother gets relief from her itch. It is used when an action results in a win-win outcome or when someone gets a personal benefit while performing a duty.

The one who knows how to fight is at a higher risk of death.

This proverb suggests that those with expertise or skills in a dangerous field are often the most vulnerable to its risks because they take chances or engage in it frequently. It is used to caution against overconfidence in one's skills, implying that mastery does not provide immunity from accidents or failure.