మూలము అంటే, నిర్మూలము అంటాడు.
mulamu ante, nirmulamu antadu.
When one said "root" the other said "rot." One attempted to explain, the other pooh poohed him.
This expression is used to describe someone who is extremely argumentative, contrary, or perverse. When one person suggests a basic starting point or a cause (root), the other person immediately suggests destroying it or going to the opposite extreme just to be difficult.
Related Phrases
ఆత్మా రావే నూతపడుదాము అంటే, ఆదివారము రోజున అందరమూ పడుదాము అన్నదట
atma rave nutapadudamu ante, adivaramu rojuna andaramu padudamu annadata
When he thought of putting an end to himself, his soul said within him "Let us wait until Sunday and all drown together." The word "All" refers to the elements of which man is composed.
This proverb highlights procrastination or the tendency to delay an unpleasant or difficult task by suggesting a later time or involving more people to avoid immediate action. It is used to mock someone who makes excuses or tries to turn a personal responsibility into a group event to stall for time.
Sunday is a propitious day. Judge well before you act. Consideration is the parent of wisdom.
ఋషిమూలము, నదీమూలము, స్త్రీమూలము విచారించకూడదు.
rishimulamu, nadimulamu, strimulamu vicharinchakudadu.
Enquire not into the origin of a Ṛishi, a river, or a woman. Ṛishi is a saint. ( See Wilson's Sans. Diet. ) ఎ.
This proverb suggests that searching for the lineage or starting point of certain things is futile or inappropriate. A sage is judged by their wisdom, not their birth; a river is judged by its utility, not its source; and a woman's character or status should be respected regardless of her past or family background.
దండు వెడదాము అంటే, పండు తిని వెడదాము అన్నట్టు
dandu vedadamu ante, pandu tini vedadamu annattu
When asked to go to war, one replied let's eat a fruit and then go.
This proverb describes a person who is lazy, hesitant, or makes excuses to delay an urgent or difficult task. It highlights the contrast between the seriousness of a situation (preparing for war) and a trivial or self-indulgent delay (eating a fruit).
ఆపస్తంబులా ఆశ్వలాయనులా అంటే, ఆపస్తంబులమూ కాము, ఆశ్వలాయనులమూ కాము, అప్పారావుగారి హర్కారాలము అన్నారట
apastambula ashvalayanula ante, apastambulamu kamu, ashvalayanulamu kamu, apparavugari harkaralamu annarata
When asked whether they belonged to the Âpastamba or Âsvalâyana sect, they replied "We are neither the one nor the other, we are messengers of Appâ Râu." Utter ignorance of religion.
This proverb describes people who have no understanding of their own traditions, lineage, or deeper identity, and instead identify themselves solely by their mundane job or their employer. It is used to mock those who prioritize temporary, material roles over their fundamental cultural or spiritual roots.
బర్రె కొమ్ము అంటే, యిర్రి కొమ్ము అంటాడు.
barre kommu ante, yirri kommu antadu.
When one says it is a she-buffalo's horn, the other says it is a doe's. Foolish argumentation.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is habitually argumentative or stubborn. It refers to someone who intentionally contradicts others for the sake of disagreement, even when the facts are clear. It highlights a lack of cooperation or a tendency to be contrary in every conversation.
తాంబూలం వేయని నోరు, కమలం లేని కోనేరు
tambulam veyani noru, kamalam leni koneru
A mouth without betel leaf, a pond without a lotus.
This expression emphasizes that certain things are incomplete or lack beauty without their essential adornments. Just as a pond looks barren without a lotus flower, a face/mouth is traditionally considered to lack grace or festive spirit if it hasn't partaken in 'Tambulam' (betel leaves and nuts), which is a symbol of auspiciousness and social culture in Telugu tradition.
ఋషి మూలం, నది మూలం, స్త్రీ మూలం విచారించరాదు
rishi mulam, nadi mulam, stri mulam vicharincharadu
The origin of a sage, a river, and a woman should not be questioned.
This proverb suggests that one should value the current state, qualities, or greatness of certain things rather than digging into their ancestry or humble beginnings. It is used to advise against prying into the past backgrounds of great people or natural wonders where the origins might be obscure or inconsistent with their current status.
బెల్లము ఉందా అంటే, అల్లము ఉంది అన్నట్లు
bellamu unda ante, allamu undi annatlu
When asked if there is jaggery, answering that there is ginger.
This expression describes an irrelevant or out-of-context response. It is used when someone provides an answer that has nothing to do with the question asked, or when there is a total lack of communication/understanding between two people.
వేస్తివిరా కన్నము అంటే, చేస్తివే కాపరము అన్నట్టు
vestivira kannamu ante, chestive kaparamu annattu
" So you've broken into the house, have you ?" [ said a wretched woman to a burglar ] " So you live in great style, do you ?" [ replied the thief ]. Disappointed expectations.
This proverb describes a situation where someone caught doing something wrong or illegal tries to act as if they have a legitimate right to be there or are doing something permanent and honorable. It is used to mock people who give ridiculous justifications for their obvious misdeeds or those who overstay their welcome shamelessly.
అత్తా రావే నూతిలో పడదాము అంటే, ఆదివారం అందరమూ పడదాము అన్నదట.
atta rave nutilo padadamu ante, adivaram andaramu padadamu annadata.
When the daughter-in-law said, 'Mother-in-law, come let us jump into the well', the mother-in-law replied, 'Let us all jump on Sunday'.
This proverb is used to describe procrastination or the act of postponing a task (often an unpleasant or impulsive one) by setting a specific future date. It highlights how people use logic or scheduling to delay actions they aren't truly committed to, or simply the habit of turning a private matter into a public event to avoid immediate execution.