పంచపాండవులంటే నాకు తెలియదా, మంచపుకోళ్లవలె ముగ్గురు అని రెండు వేళ్లు చూపించాడట.
panchapandavulante naku teliyada, manchapukollavale mugguru ani rendu vellu chupinchadata.
Don't I know about the five Pandavas? They are three in number like the legs of a bed, he said, while showing two fingers.
This expression is used to mock someone who pretends to have thorough knowledge about a subject but demonstrates complete ignorance or confusion through their explanation. It highlights a situation where someone claims expertise while making glaring, contradictory errors.
Related Phrases
ఆడేరంటే తెలియదా, తోడేరువలె రెండుకొమ్మలుండు అన్నట్లు.
aderante teliyada, toderuvale rendukommalundu annatlu.
If I say I know the 'Aderu', don't I know it? It has two branches just like a 'Thoderu'.
This proverb is used to describe a person who pretends to be an expert on a subject but reveals their utter ignorance by comparing it to something else that is equally non-existent or wrong. It mocks someone who tries to cover up their lack of knowledge with confident but nonsensical explanations.
పాడు ఊరికి మంచపుకోడే పోతురాజు
padu uriki manchapukode poturaju
In a ruined village, the leg of a cot is the powerful deity Pothuraju.
In a place where there is a complete lack of talent or leadership, even a mediocre or worthless person is considered great or powerful. It is used to describe a situation where someone with very little skill becomes the leader because there is no better competition available.
ముక్కేదిరా అంటే తలచుట్టూ చేయి తిప్పి చూపించినట్లు.
mukkedira ante talachuttu cheyi tippi chupinchinatlu.
When asked where the nose is, showing it by wrapping the hand around the head.
This proverb is used to describe a person who takes a long, complicated, or circuitous route to do something that could be done very simply and directly. It highlights unnecessary complexity and inefficiency in communication or action.
పంచపాండవులు అంటే మంచపు కోళ్ళలాగా ముగ్గురు కారని రెండంటూ ఒకటి చూపబోయి సున్నా చుట్టాడట
panchapandavulu ante manchapu kollalaga mugguru karani rendantu okati chupaboyi sunna chuttadata
When asked about the five Pandavas, he said they are like the four legs of a cot, showed three fingers, said they are two, pointed at one, and finally drew a zero.
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely ignorant or confused despite pretending to be knowledgeable. It mocks someone who starts with a simple fact but gets progressively more incorrect until they reach a state of total absurdity or nothingness. It highlights utter lack of clarity or competence in a subject.
మంచివాడు మంచివాడంటే, మంచమంతా కంతలు చేసినాడు.
manchivadu manchivadante, manchamanta kantalu chesinadu.
When called a good man, he made holes all over the cot.
This proverb describes a situation where someone takes undue advantage of the praise or kindness shown to them. It refers to people who, when trusted or given freedom due to their 'good' reputation, end up causing damage or acting irresponsibly. It is used to caution against blind trust or to describe someone who lacks common sense despite being called 'good'.
మఖ పంచకము సదా పంచకము
makha panchakamu sada panchakamu
Five days of Makha (rain) equals five months (of water/benefit).
This is a traditional agricultural proverb. It means that if it rains during the 'Makha' Karti (a specific period in the lunar calendar), the water received in those five days is as beneficial and sufficient as five months of regular rainfall. It emphasizes the importance of timely rain for a good harvest.
లవణం అంటే నాకు తెలియదా, సోమిదేవమ్మ కూతుర్ని దూడరేణం అన్నట్టు.
lavanam ante naku teliyada, somidevamma kuturni dudarenam annattu.
Do I not know what salt (lavanam) is? It is like calling Somidevamma's daughter 'Dudarenam'.
This proverb is used to mock someone who pretends to be an expert or highly knowledgeable but exposes their total ignorance the moment they speak. In the saying, the person claims to know the word 'Lavanam' (Salt) but immediately confuses it with a nonsensical word 'Dudarenam', proving they have no idea what they are talking about.
పంచపాండవులు మంచం కోళ్లవలె ముగ్గురు అంటారేగాని, యిద్దరే అని వక వేలు చూపినాడట.
panchapandavulu mancham kollavale mugguru antaregani, yiddare ani vaka velu chupinadata.
"The five Pândavas they say are three like the legs of a bed, but there are only two," said he, showing one finger. Said of a stupid accountant.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks basic knowledge or consistency. It depicts someone so confused or ignorant that they contradict themselves multiple times in a single statement—stating the Pandavas (who are five) are three like cot legs (which are four), and then holding up one finger to indicate two. It is used to mock utter stupidity or a complete lack of logic.
ఓనమాలు చదివేవారే కానీ, ఆనవాలు చూపించలేరు
onamalu chadivevare kani, anavalu chupinchaleru
They only read the alphabet but cannot show the evidence/signs.
This expression is used to describe people who possess theoretical knowledge or have learned the basics (literacy) but lack practical application or proof of their abilities. It highlights the gap between superficial learning and meaningful results or execution.
మంచివాడు మంచివాడంటే, మంచమెక్కి గంతులు వేశాడటా.
manchivadu manchivadante, manchamekki gantulu veshadata.
When he was called a good man, he jumped onto the cot and started leaping.
This expression is used to describe someone who takes undue advantage of others' kindness or praise. It refers to a person who, when treated with respect or leniency, behaves recklessly or exceeds their boundaries due to overconfidence or lack of discipline.