మొండిదానా నీ మొగుడేమీ చేసినాడంటే, అటుకొట్టి ఇటుకొట్టి వాడే పోయాడు అన్నదట
mondidana ni mogudemi chesinadante, atukotti itukotti vade poyadu annadata
When asked 'O stubborn woman, what did your husband do?', she replied 'He hit me here and there, and then he died'.
This proverb is used to describe an extremely stubborn or difficult person who refuses to yield even when facing consequences. It implies that the person is so relentless that they ended up being the 'winner' only because the other person exhausted themselves or passed away trying to deal with them. It highlights a toxic level of persistence where the individual finds victory in others' defeat or departure.
Related Phrases
అల్లుడికి వండిన అన్నము కొడుకుకు పెట్టి కొట్టుకొన్నదట
alludiki vandina annamu kodukuku petti kottukonnadata
She grudgingly gave to her son the food prepared for her son-in-law. The affection of a mother-in-law for her son-in-law.
This expression refers to someone who makes a mistake out of haste or emotional confusion and then regrets it intensely. It describes the irony of a person performing an action that is technically beneficial to their own family (feeding the son) while feeling guilty for neglecting a social obligation or a guest (the son-in-law).
మొండికెక్కినదాన్ని మొగుడేమి చేయు, రచ్చకెక్కినదాన్ని రాజేమి చేయు
mondikekkinadanni mogudemi cheyu, rachchakekkinadanni rajemi cheyu
What can a husband do to a stubborn woman? What can a king do to a woman who has gone to the public square?
This proverb highlights the limitations of authority when dealing with shamelessness or extreme defiance. It means that if a person becomes utterly stubborn or discards their reputation by taking a private matter to the public (causing a scene), even those in power (like a husband in a traditional household or a king in a state) cannot control or reform them. It is used to describe situations where someone is beyond the reach of social norms or discipline.
పెట్టి పొయ్యనమ్మ కొట్టి పొమ్మన్నదట.
petti poyyanamma kotti pommannadata.
She that gave neither food nor drink, beat [me] and said "be off." Said by a beggar.
This proverb describes a person who is not only uncharitable or unhelpful but also behaves rudely or aggressively towards those seeking help. It is used to highlight a situation where instead of receiving expected hospitality or assistance, one receives harsh treatment.
కోడలి మొగుడు కొట్టం పట్టుకొని పడ్డాడట
kodali mogudu kottam pattukoni paddadata
It is said the daughter-in-law's husband is clinging to the cowshed.
This expression is used to describe someone who refers to their own family members or close relatives in a roundabout, distant, or overly formal way instead of using the direct relationship. In this case, the 'daughter-in-law's husband' is actually the speaker's own son. It highlights an absurd or unnecessarily complicated way of identifying someone familiar.
చెట్టుకొట్టి పైకి తెచ్చుకున్నట్టు
chettukotti paiki techchukunnattu
Cutting a tree and letting it fall on one's self. Bringing trouble on one's own head. The fool hunts for misfortune. (French.)
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone's own actions or attempts to solve a problem backfire, causing them self-inflicted harm or trouble. It is similar to the English idiom 'to dig one's own grave' or 'to shoot oneself in the foot'.
* Plega l'albero quando à giovane. † Gammel Green bryder nær den skal boles. Le fou cherche son malheur.
ఉపాధ్యాయులు ఏమి చేస్తున్నాడంటే, అబద్ధాలు వ్రాసి దిద్దుకుంటున్నాడు అన్నాడట.
upadhyayulu emi chestunnadante, abaddhalu vrasi diddukuntunnadu annadata.
When asked what the school master was doing, one replied " he is correcting the mistakes he has made." A bad workman.
This proverb is used to mock someone who engages in futile, self-created work just to appear busy or productive. It describes a situation where a person creates their own problems or errors only to spend time fixing them, resulting in no actual progress or value. It is often applied to bureaucrats or professionals who indulge in unnecessary paperwork or circular logic.
మొండికెత్తితే మొగుడేమి చేస్తాడు, బండకెత్తితే బావేమి చేస్తాడు.
mondikettite mogudemi chestadu, bandakettite bavemi chestadu.
If one becomes stubborn, what can the husband do? If one is placed on a stone, what can the brother-in-law do?
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person is extremely obstinate or refuses to cooperate. It implies that if a person decides to be unyielding or irrational (becoming 'mandi'), even those with authority or close relations cannot influence or help them. It highlights the helplessness of others when dealing with someone who is determined to be difficult.
మొండికెక్కినదాన్ని మొగుడేమి చేసును, రచ్చకెక్కినదాన్ని రాజేమి చేసును
mondikekkinadanni mogudemi chesunu, rachchakekkinadanni rajemi chesunu
What can a husband do to a refractory wife ? What can a king do to a woman who enters the hall of audience?
This proverb highlights that when a person becomes completely stubborn or shameless and decides to air their grievances or behavior in public (defying social norms), even those in authority like a husband or a king cannot control or reform them. It is used to describe situations where a person has lost their fear of consequences or social reputation.
ఏమి పోలిశెట్టీ అంటే, యెప్పటి మొత్తుకోళ్లే అన్నాడట
emi polishetti ante, yeppati mottukolle annadata
When Pôlisetti was asked how he was getting on, he replied "I am in trouble as usual."
This proverb is used to describe a situation or a person that never changes despite the passage of time. It refers to people who are chronic complainers or situations where, no matter when you check in, the problems and grievances remain exactly the same as before.
మొగుడు కొట్టినాడని మొల్లవాని దగ్గరకు పోతే, మొల్లవాడు తెల్లవార్లూ కొట్టినాడట
mogudu kottinadani mollavani daggaraku pote, mollavadu tellavarlu kottinadata
When she went to the jasmine-seller because her husband beat her, the jasmine-seller beat her all night long.
This proverb describes a situation where someone tries to escape a small problem or a specific hardship by seeking help from another person, only to find themselves in a much worse or more continuous predicament. It is similar to the expression 'out of the frying pan and into the fire.'