మొండికేస్తే మొగుడేం చేస్తాడు, బండకెక్కితే బావేం చేస్తాడు?

mondikeste mogudem chestadu, bandakekkite bavem chestadu?

Translation

If she becomes stubborn, what can the husband do? If she climbs a rock, what can the brother-in-law do?

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where a person is so stubborn or defiant that no amount of authority or relationship can influence them. It is used to highlight that when someone is determined to be unreasonable or uncooperative, others around them become helpless to change the outcome.

Related Phrases

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.

What can one cuckoo do among a hundred crows?

This expression is used to describe a situation where a single good, talented, or virtuous person is overwhelmed and silenced by a large group of wicked or ignorant people. It signifies that even a beautiful voice or a noble idea can be drowned out by the noise of the masses.

He searches for bones in a woman's breast.

This expression is used to describe a person who examines something with extreme, often excessive, detail. It refers to a rigorous or pedantic scrutiny where one looks for even the smallest flaws or nuances, similar to the English idiom 'hair-splitting'.

Applied to a very minute enquiry.

When it is as small as a finger nail, he makes a mountain of it. To make a mountain of a mole-hill.

This expression is used to describe someone who has a habit of exaggerating small, insignificant matters or trivial issues into major problems or grand stories. It is equivalent to the English idiom 'to make a mountain out of a molehill'.

One who has ten people behind him can do farming even if he is a coward.

This proverb emphasizes the power of teamwork and support. It suggests that even an incompetent or timid person can achieve great tasks, like agriculture, if they have a large family or a strong team to support and guide them. Success often depends more on collective strength than individual ability.

If it is as small as a fingernail, he makes it as big as a mountain.

This expression is used to describe a person who has a habit of exaggerating things or blowing small issues out of proportion. It is similar to the English idiom 'to make a mountain out of a molehill'.

What can a husband do to an adamant woman, and what can a king do to a woman who has taken her grievance to the public square?

This proverb highlights the limitations of authority when dealing with someone who has become completely stubborn or has already crossed the limits of social shame. It suggests that once a person becomes defiant (adamant) or decides to expose a private matter publicly (to the street/court), traditional authorities like a husband or even a king lose their power to control or discipline them.

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.

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.

If it moves, it is a cart; if it doesn't, it is stubborn.

This proverb is used to describe a situation or a machine that is unreliable or inconsistent. It refers to something that works perfectly when it wants to but becomes completely uncooperative or stationary when it faces a hurdle. It is often applied to old vehicles, unpredictable people, or projects that lack a steady momentum.