ములగకాడకు ముంగడ్లెన్ని అంటే కాకరకాయకు గంట్లెన్ని అన్నట్లు
mulagakadaku mungadlenni ante kakarakayaku gantlenni annatlu
When asked how many sections are in a drumstick, replying with how many ridges are on a bitter gourd.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone gives an irrelevant, nonsensical, or evasive answer to a question. It highlights a lack of direct communication or a mismatch between a query and its response, often used when someone tries to avoid a topic by diverting to another illogical point.
Related Phrases
చేటలో వెలగకాయలవలె
chetalo velagakayalavale
Like wood apples in a winnowing tray.
This expression describes a situation where things or people are scattered, unorganized, and constantly rolling or moving about without stability. It is often used to refer to a lack of unity or a group where members are not cooperating and are heading in different directions.
కలవారింటి ఆడపడుచుకు కాకరకాయ కానరాదు.
kalavarinti adapaduchuku kakarakaya kanaradu.
A girl who has come from a rich man's house cannot even look at a Kâkarakâya. Kâkarakâya is the Memordica Charantia. Puffed up with pride.
This proverb is used to describe people who live in luxury or abundance and lose touch with reality or fail to notice small, common, or unpleasant things. It implies that when one is surrounded by riches, they might overlook simple hardships or become indifferent to things that are obvious to others.
కలవారింటి ఆడపడుచుకు కాకరకాయ కానరాదు
kalavarinti adapaduchuku kakarakaya kanaradu
A daughter-in-law in a wealthy household cannot see a bitter gourd.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is so overwhelmed by luxury, abundance, or variety that they fail to notice or appreciate simple, common things. It highlights how someone living in extreme plenty might overlook the obvious or the basic necessities because their attention is focused on more extravagant things.
పొట్లకాయకు రాయి కడితే చక్కనగును గాని, కుక్క తోకకు కడితే ఫలమేమి?
potlakayaku rayi kadite chakkanagunu gani, kukka tokaku kadite phalamemi?
If you tie a stone to a snake gourd, it will grow straight, but what is the use of tying one to a dog's tail?
This proverb highlights that some things or people can be corrected with discipline or guidance, while others have an inherent nature that is impossible to change. It is often used to describe someone who refuses to change their bad habits or crooked nature despite repeated efforts to reform them.
మునగకాయకు తగిన ముండ్లు, కాకరకాయకు తగిన కరకులు.
munagakayaku tagina mundlu, kakarakayaku tagina karakulu.
Thorns suited for the drumstick, and roughness suited for the bitter gourd.
This proverb implies that every individual or situation has its own unique set of flaws or characteristics that are inherent to their nature. It is often used to suggest that a person has found a match or a consequence that perfectly fits their specific temperament or behavior, similar to the English expression 'to each their own' or 'fitting for one's nature.'
ములకకాయకు తగిన ముండ్లు ఎప్పుడూ ఉన్నవే, కాకరకాయకు తగిన గరకులు అప్పుడే ఉన్నవి.
mulakakayaku tagina mundlu eppudu unnave, kakarakayaku tagina garakulu appude unnavi.
As there are thorns on the nightshade so is there roughness on the Kâkara.
This proverb emphasizes that natural traits, flaws, or defenses are inherent from birth or origin. It is used to describe situations where a person's behavior or a thing's characteristics are innate and not acquired later in life. It suggests that every being comes equipped with its own unique nature, whether pleasant or prickly.
Mulaka is the Solanum Trilobatum. One man foolish in one way and one man in another.
కాకరకాయకు కంతలు ఎన్ని అంటే ములగకాయకు ముంగ్లెన్ని అన్నాడట.
kakarakayaku kantalu enni ante mulagakayaku munglenni annadata.
When asked how many bumps a bitter gourd has, he asked how many ridges a drumstick has.
This proverb describes a situation where someone answers a question with another irrelevant or counter-question to avoid admitting ignorance. It is used when someone tries to cover up their lack of knowledge by being argumentative or evasive.
చదవక ముందు కాకరకాయ, చదివిన తర్వాత కీకరకాయ
chadavaka mundu kakarakaya, chadivina tarvata kikarakaya
Before studying, it is a bitter gourd; after studying, it is a 'keekarakaya'.
This proverb is used to mock people who pretend to be more educated or sophisticated after learning a little, but in reality, their knowledge is superficial or they have only learned to complicate simple things. It satirizes someone whose behavior or speech becomes unnecessarily complex or nonsensical after gaining education, rather than becoming wiser.
వంకాయ దొంగిలించినవాడు టెంకాయకు రాడా?
vankaya dongilinchinavadu tenkayaku rada?
Will the person who stole a brinjal not come for a coconut?
This proverb suggests that a person who commits a small crime or dishonesty will eventually move on to bigger ones. It is used to imply that character is defined by the act of stealing itself, not the value of the object stolen. If someone can justify small wrongdoings, they are capable of larger ones as well.
నక్కకు నవ్వు - ఎండ్రకాయకు గండం
nakkaku navvu - endrakayaku gandam
Laughter for the fox - a danger for the crab.
This proverb describes a situation that is joyful for one person but fatal or disastrous for another. It is used to highlight instances where someone's amusement comes at the cost of another's survival or well-being, similar to the English expression 'one man's meat is another man's poison.'