మొహమాటానికి పోతే ముండ గర్భిణి అయిందట.

mohamataniki pote munda garbhini ayindata.

Translation

They say a widow became pregnant because she was too hesitant to say no.

Meaning

This proverb is used to warn against the dangers of being overly polite or hesitant (mohamatam). It suggests that if you cannot say 'no' firmly when needed and act only to please others or avoid awkwardness, you may end up facing disastrous consequences or carrying a heavy burden that was never yours to bear.

Related Phrases

If one goes by hesitation or politeness, a widow might end up pregnant.

This proverb is used to warn against the dangers of being overly hesitant, polite, or unable to say 'no' (Mogamatam). It suggests that excessive politeness in situations where one should be firm can lead to disastrous, irreversible, and shameful consequences. It is used to advise someone to be assertive when necessary to protect their own interests.

If the husband calls his wife a widow, the beggar who comes to the door will also call her a widow.

This proverb highlights that if a family member (especially a protector) treats their own kin with disrespect or demeans them in public, outsiders will feel emboldened to do the same. It is used to advise that one must maintain dignity and respect within the family to ensure the world respects them as well.

If you go forward, she is a dirty woman; if you go backward, she is a mad woman.

This proverb is used to describe a 'catch-22' or a 'no-win' situation where every available option leads to a negative or unpleasant outcome. It is similar to the English expressions 'between a rock and a hard place' or 'between the devil and the deep blue sea.'

Will your sins vanish if you go to a neighboring village?

This proverb emphasizes that one cannot escape the consequences of their actions or their internal guilt simply by changing their location. Physical movement doesn't provide moral absolution. It is used to point out that a person's problems or character flaws follow them wherever they go.

The Saataani's nuptials ceremony

This expression refers to a situation that is prolonged indefinitely or a process that seems to have no end. It is used to describe a task, event, or project that keeps getting delayed or drags on forever without reaching a conclusion.

Weak to begin with and pregnant besides.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who is already in a fragile or weak state is burdened with additional heavy responsibilities or problems. It highlights a compounding of difficulties when the initial foundation was already shaky.

Sick of the idle crick, and the belly-wark in the heel.

When someone went for salvation, a crocodile dragged them away.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone sets out to achieve a noble or higher goal, but instead gets caught up in a sudden, unexpected, and mundane disaster or complication. It highlights the irony of encountering a great misfortune while seeking the ultimate spiritual liberation.

Was the hammer first, or were the tongs ?

This expression is used to describe a situation of extreme confusion, circular logic, or a 'chicken and egg' dilemma. It refers to the irony that a blacksmith needs a hammer to make pincers, but needs pincers to hold the metal to make a hammer. It is often used to mock someone who is confused about the order of operations or stuck in a paradox.

When she went in a rush, she gave birth to a girl child.

This proverb is used to mock someone who acts with extreme impatience or haste, only to end up with a result that is either ordinary or contrary to their expectations. It highlights that rushing doesn't guarantee a superior or desired outcome.

Like drizzles becoming a cyclone.

Sometimes, a mere altercation, starting off in a small way, may lead to a fierce quarrel and continuing enmity.