మొగుడు కొట్టినందుకు కాదుగాని, తోడికోడలు నవ్వినందుకు.
mogudu kottinanduku kadugani, todikodalu navvinanduku.
It is not because the husband beat me, but because the sister-in-law laughed at me.
This proverb describes a situation where the actual pain or loss caused by a primary event is less hurtful than the humiliation or mockery faced from peers or rivals during that event. It is used to highlight how social embarrassment or the gloating of others often stings more than the misfortune itself.
Related Phrases
నవ్విన నాపచేనే పండుతుంది.
navvina napachene pandutundi.
The field that was laughed at will be the one to yield the harvest.
This proverb suggests that success often comes to those who were once ridiculed or underestimated. It is used to encourage someone to persevere despite mockery, implying that the final outcome will prove their worth.
మొగుడు కొట్టినందుకు కాదు తోడికోడలు నవ్వినందుకు ఏడ్చిందట.
mogudu kottinanduku kadu todikodalu navvinanduku edchindata.
She didn't cry because her husband hit her, but because her sister-in-law laughed at it.
This proverb describes a situation where the humiliation or mockery from peers is more painful than the actual suffering or punishment itself. It is used when someone is more bothered by public embarrassment or the reactions of others than by the core problem they are facing.
తెల్లవారి లేచినందుకు దోవ తప్పినందుకూ సరి.
tellavari lechinanduku dova tappinanduku sari.
Waking up early and losing the way offset each other.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the effort put into a task is rendered useless by a subsequent mistake or hurdle. It highlights that the benefit gained from starting early or working hard was nullified because the person ended up going in the wrong direction or making a fundamental error, resulting in no net progress.
గొట్టిలు కాచినందుకు, లొడుగు తాగినందుకు సరి.
gottilu kachinanduku, lodugu taginanduku sari.
Boiling the nuts is equal to drinking the residue.
This proverb describes a situation where the effort put into a task is completely negated by the poor quality of the result, or where one trouble cancels out another with no net gain. It is used when a difficult process yields a disappointing or insignificant outcome, effectively meaning 'it was all for nothing' or 'the effort and the result are equally bad'.
పొద్దున లేచినందుకు, బాట తప్పినందుకు సరిపోయింది
podduna lechinanduku, bata tappinanduku saripoyindi
Waking up early and losing the way balanced each other out.
This expression is used when the extra effort or advantage gained at the start of a task is completely negated by a subsequent mistake or misfortune. It implies that despite a good start, one is back to square one due to poor execution or bad luck.
ఎద్దులు కాసినందుకు ముద్దలు మింగినందుకు సరిపోయింది పో అన్నాడట
eddulu kasinanduku muddalu minginanduku saripoyindi po annadata
He said it's a fair trade: for the time spent grazing the bulls, he got to swallow the food morsels.
This expression describes a situation where the effort put into a task is exactly equal to or barely covered by the meager reward received, resulting in no real gain or profit. It is used when someone works hard just to meet basic sustenance or when a transaction results in a zero-sum outcome with no benefit for the labor involved.
సంతలో కొట్టినందుకు సాక్షులెవరు?
santalo kottinanduku sakshulevaru?
Who are witnesses to the [ blow ] struck in the fair ? In a crowd, no one can tell by whom a blow was struck.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where an event happens in such a chaotic or crowded environment that it is impossible to pinpoint the culprit or find reliable witnesses. It suggests that in the middle of a massive commotion, individual actions often go unnoticed or unproven.
సవతి కుండనైనా ఉడుకుతాను అన్నది కానీ, తోడికోడలి కుండలో ఉడకను అన్నదట.
savati kundanaina udukutanu annadi kani, todikodali kundalo udakanu annadata.
I will boil even in a co-wife's pot, but I won't boil in a sister-in-law's pot.
This proverb highlights that professional or social rivalry between sisters-in-law (wives of brothers) can sometimes be even more bitter or stubborn than the legendary rivalry between co-wives. It is used to describe extreme instances of domestic competition or petty animosity where one person refuses to cooperate with someone they particularly dislike, even if they might tolerate others.
మొగుడు కొట్టినందుకు కాదు గానీ, ముక్కు చీమిడి వదిలినందుకు సంతోషం
mogudu kottinanduku kadu gani, mukku chimidi vadilinanduku santosham
It is not about the husband's beating, but the joy that the nasal mucus is gone.
This expression is used sarcastically to describe a situation where someone tries to find a trivial or absurd silver lining in a bad or humiliating situation. It points out the irony of ignoring a major problem (being beaten) while focusing on a minor, irrelevant benefit (clearing a stuffy nose).
మొగుడు కొట్టినందుకు కాదుగాని, తోడికోడలు దెప్పుతున్నదని విచారము.
mogudu kottinanduku kadugani, todikodalu depputunnadani vicharamu.
I am not grieved because my husband beat me, but because his brother's wife will taunt me. Ridicule is feared more than pain.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is less bothered by the primary hardship or problem itself, but is deeply hurt by the mockery or humiliation they face from peers or others as a result of it. It highlights how social stigma or being looked down upon by equals can be more painful than the actual misfortune.