మునిగింది ముర్దార, తేలింది హలాల్.

munigindi murdara, telindi halal.

Translation

That which sank is carrion; that which floated is lawful (halal).

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a person's extreme opportunism or hypocrisy. It refers to someone who changes their rules or principles based on convenience—claiming a loss is worthless and only claiming ownership or 'purity' of what survives or benefits them.

Related Phrases

Like a basket boat sinking as it reached the middle of the river. A break down half way, in any business.

This expression describes a situation where someone experiences a total loss or failure just when they are at the most critical or deepest point of a task. It is used to express feelings of being completely helpless or facing a disaster at a crucial moment when there is no hope of rescue.

Asked for bread, given a stone.

This expression is used when someone requests help or a specific favor but receives something useless, harmful, or completely contrary to their needs. It highlights a situation of disappointment where a genuine plea is met with indifference or hostility.

Like heavy boulders floating and light cork sinking.

This expression describes a situation where everything is upside down or contrary to the natural order of things. It is used to remark on scenarios where justice is inverted, where the undeserving succeed while the deserving fail, or when illogical events occur.

Like corks sinking and stones floating.

This expression describes an unnatural, illogical, or topsy-turvy situation where things happen contrary to their nature. It is used to point out a state of injustice, corruption, or chaos where the deserving are neglected and the unworthy are elevated.

If the principal amount is drowned, won't the interest be drowned too?

This proverb is used to illustrate that when the core foundation or the primary source of something is lost or destroyed, the secondary benefits or consequences associated with it will inevitably disappear as well. It is often applied in financial contexts or when discussing the root cause of a failure.

Like heavy boulders floating and light corks sinking

This expression describes an unnatural or chaotic situation where things are happening contrary to their nature or the established order. It is used when merit is ignored while incompetence is rewarded, or when the impossible happens while the obvious fails.

Like corks sinking and stones floating.

This expression describes a situation where the natural order of things is reversed, or where something completely illogical and impossible is happening. It is often used to refer to a state of chaos, injustice, or a scenario where incompetent people succeed while capable ones fail.

Bullets floating, Bendu sinking.

This expression is used to describe a topsy-turvy situation where things are happening contrary to their natural order or common sense. It refers to a scenario where heavy, solid things (boulders) are treated lightly or succeed, while light, buoyant things (corks) fail or are suppressed. It is often used to critique injustice, poor management, or illogical outcomes in society.

Bendu is the Eschynomene Indica from which pith hats, models, &c. are made. The order of nature reversed. * El abad de Bamba, lo que no puede comer, dalo por su alma,

If it sinks, it is a stone; if it floats, it is a cork.

This proverb refers to things that are very light or very heavy with no middle ground. It is used to describe an 'all or nothing' situation or to test the true nature of something by observing its final outcome. It implies that the result will eventually reveal the reality, just as water reveals whether an object is a heavy stone or a light piece of wood/cork.

Even if it dips in the Ganges, will a crow become a swan?

This proverb is used to convey that a person's fundamental nature, character, or inherent qualities do not change simply by changing their environment, performing religious rituals, or putting on external appearances. Just as a crow remains a crow regardless of where it bathes, a person with bad intentions or lack of merit cannot become noble just by association with something sacred.