నాలికా నాలికా వీపుకు దెబ్బలు తేకు
nalika nalika vipuku debbalu teku
O Tongue! Tongue! don't bring strokes on my back. The tongue talks at the head's cost. Let not the tongue utter what the head must pay for. (Spanish.)
This proverb is a warning to speak carefully. It implies that loose talk, insults, or thoughtless words can lead to physical confrontation or trouble for the person who spoke them. It emphasizes the importance of self-control in speech to avoid negative consequences.
Related Phrases
గారాబము గారెలకు ఏడిస్తే, వీపు దెబ్బలకు ఏడుస్తోంది
garabamu garelaku ediste, vipu debbalaku edustondi
You are teazing me and crying for cakes and your back is crying for a whipping. Said by a father.
This proverb describes a situation where someone is being overly demanding or spoiled due to excessive affection, while the reality of their situation or their behavior is actually inviting punishment. It is used to caution against over-indulging children or individuals who do not realize that their stubbornness will lead to negative consequences.
ఉడుముకు రెండు నాలుకలు
udumuku rendu nalukalu
The monitor lizard has two tongues.
This expression is used to describe a person who is untrustworthy, inconsistent, or goes back on their word. It characterizes someone who says one thing now and another thing later, similar to the English term 'double-tongued' or 'forked tongue'.
గారాబం గారెలకు ఏడిస్తే, వీపు దెబ్బలకు పడిందట
garabam garelaku ediste, vipu debbalaku padindata
When excessive pampering cried for vadas, the back ended up receiving blows.
This proverb describes a situation where someone who is overly spoiled makes unreasonable demands, only to face harsh consequences or punishment instead. It is used to warn that over-indulgence leads to behavior that eventually invites trouble or discipline.
వలపుకు పలుపు దెబ్బలు వయ్యారికి చెప్పు దెబ్బలు
valapuku palupu debbalu vayyariki cheppu debbalu
Rope lashings for infatuation and slipper hits for a coquette.
This proverb suggests that infatuation or reckless passion needs to be restrained with force (like a cattle rope), and a flirtatious person who crosses boundaries needs to be humbled or corrected with harsh treatment. It is used to imply that certain behaviors only stop when met with strict punishment.
ఉడుముకు రెండు నాలికలు
udumuku rendu nalikalu
The Guana has two tongues. Said of a man that breaks his word. " A sinner that hath a double tongue." Ecclesiasticus vi. 1.
This expression is used to describe a person who is inconsistent, hypocritical, or goes back on their word. Just as a monitor lizard has a forked tongue, it refers to someone who says one thing now and another thing later, or someone who is double-tongued and unreliable.
వియ్యంకునికి వీపుదెబ్బలు, వియ్యపురాలికి వాపుదెబ్బలు
viyyankuniki vipudebbalu, viyyapuraliki vapudebbalu
Back-stabs for the male in-law, swelling blows for the female in-law.
This expression is used to describe a situation where relatives or people involved in a relationship are treated with extreme hostility, insults, or physical abuse instead of the expected mutual respect and hospitality. It highlights a complete breakdown of decorum and the irony of causing harm to those who should be honored.
అంగిట విషం, మున్నాలిక తియ్యదనం
angita visham, munnalika tiyyadanam
Poison in the palate, sweetness on the tip of the tongue
This proverb is used to describe a hypocritical person who speaks very sweetly and kindly to one's face but harbors malicious intentions or hatred in their heart. It warns against being deceived by charming words from someone who is internally deceitful.
నోరా? వీపుకు దెబ్బలు తెచ్చేదానా?
nora? vipuku debbalu techchedana?
O mouth, are you the one who brings beatings to the back?
This expression is used to describe how a person's lack of control over their speech or their rude words can lead to physical consequences or trouble for them. It highlights that the words we speak can often invite unwanted problems or punishment.
మానవాధీశ్వర మనువు పాలితుడు అని శెట్టిగారు పురాణం చదివితే, అబ్బో అంత పెద్ద నాలిక ఎవరికుంది అని
manavadhishvara manuvu palitudu ani shettigaru puranam chadivite, abbo anta pedda nalika evarikundi ani
When the merchant read the Purana as 'Manavadheeshwara Manuvu Palithudu', someone asked 'Oh, who has such a long tongue?'
This humorous saying or 'Sameta' highlights how mispronunciation or lack of knowledge can lead to absurd misunderstandings. In the story, the merchant misreads the Sanskrit/Telugu compound words (Sandhi), turning 'Manuvu Palithudu' (ruled by Manu) into something that sounds like 'Nalikavadu' (man with a tongue), leading an ignorant listener to wonder about the size of the person's tongue instead of the meaning of the scripture.
కుక్క కాటుకు చెప్పు దెబ్బ
kukka katuku cheppu debba
A slap with a chappal for dog bite.
Figuratively, it is an act of retaliation. Similar to “Tit for tat.”