నాకూ బెబ్బేనా అంటే, నీకూ బెబ్బే నీ అబ్బకూ బెబ్బే అన్నాడట.
naku bebbena ante, niku bebbe ni abbaku bebbe annadata.
When he said " What! Bebbe to me ?" " Yes, Bebbe to you and Bebbe to your father" was the reply. A great man pressed by his creditors was advised by a friend, himself also a creditor, to escape from their importunities by feigning madness. He accordingly did so, replying to them all like an idiot " Bebbe." The plan was successful, and the friend then asked that his debt should be paid, but he himself received the treatment he had prescribed for others. Trickery comes back to its master. (French.)
This proverb describes a situation where someone who is expected to share or provide something instead gives a defiant, blunt refusal to everyone involved. It is used to illustrate total disappointment or a stubborn denial of rights or shares, often delivered with a touch of mockery or arrogance.
* Tricherie revient à son maltre.
Related Phrases
రాగిపోగులు తగిలించుకున్నావేమిరా అంటే, నీకు అవైనా లేవు కదా అన్నాడట.
ragipogulu tagilinchukunnavemira ante, niku avaina levu kada annadata.
When asked why he was wearing copper earrings, he replied that the other person didn't even have those.
This expression describes a person who tries to hide their own inferiority or low-quality choices by pointing out that others have nothing at all. It is used to mock someone who is overly proud of something insignificant or cheap, or someone who uses others' lack of resources to justify their own poor standards.
నీ బట్టిగొడ్డును ఎవరు కాస్తారు చూస్తాము అంటే నా తిత్తిలోని డబ్బే కాస్తుంది అన్నాడట
ni battigoddunu evaru kastaru chustamu ante na tittiloni dabbe kastundi annadata
When asked who would protect his barren cow, he replied that the money in his pouch would protect it.
This expression highlights how people with immense wealth believe that their money can solve any problem or provide security for even the most useless or unproductive assets. It is used to describe the arrogance or over-reliance on financial power.
నాకు లేక నేను ఏడుస్తుంటే, నీకు నైవేద్యమా?
naku leka nenu edustunte, niku naivedyama?
While I am crying because I have nothing, do you expect a ritual offering?
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is asking for a favor or a gift from a person who is already in deep financial distress or lacking basic necessities themselves. It highlights the irony of demanding something from someone who has nothing to give.
స్వర్గానికి బెత్తెడు
svarganiki bettedu
There is only a span between you and heaven. Said ironically to a hypocrite.
This expression is used to describe a state of extreme pride, arrogance, or overwhelming joy where a person feels superior or 'on top of the world'. It implies that the person is so conceited or elated that they feel they have almost reached heaven.
నీ బర్రె గొడ్డును ఎవరు కాస్తారు చూతాము అంటే, నా తిత్తి లోని డబ్బే కాస్తున్నది అన్నాడట.
ni barre goddunu evaru kastaru chutamu ante, na titti loni dabbe kastunnadi annadata.
" Who will watch your buffalo?" said [ a herdsman ]—" The money in my purse will do it" replied [ the master ]. A fit answer to an impertinent servant.
This proverb highlights the power of money and wealth. It suggests that if one has financial resources, they can hire help or find solutions to manage their responsibilities, implying that wealth can provide security and labor where physical effort or family support might be lacking.
నీకు చెబుతుంటే నీ అబ్బకు చెబుతున్నట్టే.
niku chebutunte ni abbaku chebutunnatte.
Telling you is like telling your father.
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely stubborn or unresponsive to advice. It implies that talking to the person is a futile effort because they are as rigid or difficult to convince as an elder who refuses to listen to a subordinate, or simply that the person has no intention of changing their ways regardless of how much advice is given.
నేను లేకపోతే ఎవరిని పెళ్లాడుదువు అంటే, నీ అబ్బంటోడు ఇంకొకడు పుట్టి ఉంటాడు అన్నదట.
nenu lekapote evarini pelladuduvu ante, ni abbantodu inkokadu putti untadu annadata.
When asked 'Who would you have married if not for me?', she replied 'Someone just like your father's son would have been born'.
This proverb is used to deflate someone's ego when they think they are indispensable or unique. It suggests that the world doesn't stop for one person and a suitable replacement or a similar person will always be available to fill a role.
ఎద గొడ్డుకు బెదరుండదు
eda godduku bedarundadu
A cow in heat has no fear.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is so driven by an intense desire, obsession, or impulse that they become completely reckless and lose their sense of fear or social shame. It suggests that when someone is overwhelmed by a specific urge, they disregard consequences and surroundings.
నీ సాకు చట్టుబండలు కానూ, నాలుగు బేకులు బేకు అన్నాడట
ni saku chattubandalu kanu, nalugu bekulu beku annadata
May your Sâkus become stones! Give me four Bêkus. Said by a greedy Telugu man at an entertainment given by a Canarese gentleman. The servant handed round the dishes a second time with the usual enquiry "Sâku?" (enough?) Some of the guests would reply "Bêku" (wanted) and help themselves moderately. The Telugu man not understanding Canarese, cried out "None of your Sâkus, give me some of your Bêkus."
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone dismisses a person's weak excuses or procrastination and demands that they get the job done immediately. It highlights a no-nonsense approach to laziness or evasion of responsibility.
నీ సోకు చట్టుబండలు కాను, నాలుగు బేకులు బేక మన్నాడట
ni soku chattubandalu kanu, nalugu bekulu beka mannadata
May your vanity be ruined; he asked to bleat four times like a goat.
This expression is used to mock someone who is overly concerned with their appearance or vanity while being asked to perform a simple or perhaps degrading task. It highlights the irony of maintaining 'sophistication' or 'beauty' in a situation that demands something crude or humble. 'Soku' refers to vanity/style, and 'Chattubandalu' is a curse-like expression meaning 'to be ruined' or 'turned to stone/rubble'.