ములగకాడకు ముంగడ్లెన్ని అంటే కాకరకాయకు గంట్లెన్ని అన్నట్లు

mulagakadaku mungadlenni ante kakarakayaku gantlenni annatlu

Translation

When asked how many sections are in a drumstick, replying with how many ridges are on a bitter gourd.

Meaning

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.'

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.'