మోటువాడికి మొదటిచోట కంపు, వన్నెగాడికి మూడుచోట్ల కంపు
motuvadiki modatichota kampu, vannegadiki muduchotla kampu
The coarse man smells at the source; the dandy smells in three places.
This proverb highlights that while a simple or unrefined person might have a single obvious flaw, a person who tries too hard to be sophisticated or 'showy' often ends up with multiple layers of pretension or problems. It is used to criticize vanity or the irony of someone trying to appear perfect but failing more miserably than a simple person.
Related Phrases
లోపల కంపు, వెలుపల సొంపు
lopala kampu, velupala sompu
Stench inside, beauty outside
This proverb describes hypocrisy or superficiality. It is used to refer to something or someone that looks attractive, elegant, or virtuous on the surface but is actually rotten, corrupt, or unpleasant on the inside.
తనకంపు తనకింపు, పరులకంపు తనకు వూకిలింపు
tanakampu tanakimpu, parulakampu tanaku vukilimpu
The smell of a man is pleasant to himself, but the smell of others is disgusting. People do not find fault with their own actions.
This proverb is used to describe human nature where people tend to overlook or even justify their own faults, bad habits, or mistakes while finding the same traits in others to be unbearable or disgusting. It highlights personal bias and double standards.
తెలివిగల వాడికి మూడుచోట్ల అంటిందట
telivigala vadiki muduchotla antindata
It is said that a clever man got stuck in three places.
This is a sarcastic proverb used to mock someone who overthinks or tries to be over-smart but ends up making more mistakes than an ordinary person. It suggests that excessive cleverness can lead to complicated failures.
పిల్లలేని కంపు, వానలేని వరద
pillaleni kampu, vanaleni varada
The odor without children, the flood without rain.
This proverb is used to describe things that are unnatural, inexplicable, or lacking their primary cause. It refers to a situation where a result is seen without its source, often used to highlight something that feels incomplete, artificial, or suspicious.
ఎవడి నోటికంపు వాడికి తెలియదు.
evadi notikampu vadiki teliyadu.
One does not realize the bad smell of one's own mouth.
This proverb is used to point out that people are often unaware of their own flaws, mistakes, or annoying habits, even though they are obvious to everyone else around them. It is similar to the English concept of 'being blind to one's own faults.'
మోటుకు మొదటి చోట కంపు, వన్నెగాడికి వళ్లంతా కంపు.
motuku modati chota kampu, vannegadiki vallanta kampu.
A fastidious person suffers more than one who is less par- ticular. (See Roebuck's Persian and Hindustani Proverbs, No. 776, Part II. Sect. I.)
This proverb highlights that while an unrefined person might have obvious flaws, a hypocritical or pretentious person who tries too hard to look good often has deeper, more pervasive issues or faults. It is used to criticize those who prioritize superficial appearances over genuine character.
కానిచోట కందయినా కాయదు
kanichota kandayina kayadu
In an unfavorable place, even a yam will not grow.
This proverb suggests that if the environment, timing, or circumstances are not conducive, even the most resilient or easiest tasks will fail to yield results. It is used to emphasize that success depends heavily on being in the right place or situation.
బయటికి ఇంపు, లోపలికి కంపు
bayatiki impu, lopaliki kampu
Pleasant on the outside, stinking on the inside
This proverb is used to describe something or someone that appears attractive, virtuous, or high-quality on the surface, but is actually rotten, hypocritical, or of poor quality internally. It is similar to the English expression 'All that glitters is not gold' or referring to a 'whited sepulcher.'
తన కంపు తనకింపు, పరుల కంపు తనకింపదు
tana kampu tanakimpu, parula kampu tanakimpadu
One's own smell is pleasant to oneself, while another's smell is unbearable.
This proverb highlights human subjectivity and bias. It suggests that people are often blind to their own faults or flaws (even finding them acceptable), but are quick to judge or be disgusted by the same flaws in others. It is commonly used to point out hypocrisy or self-centeredness.
తన కంపు తనకింపు, ఒకరి కంపు ఓకరింపు
tana kampu tanakimpu, okari kampu okarimpu
One's own stench is pleasant to oneself, while another's stench causes nausea.
This proverb highlights human subjectivity and bias. It suggests that people are often blind to their own faults or mistakes (finding them acceptable or 'pleasant'), but are quick to find the faults of others repulsive or unbearable. It is used to describe situations where someone ignores their own shortcomings while criticizing others for the same.