పూబోడి అంటే, ఎవర్రా బోడి? నీ అమ్మబోడి, నీ అక్కబోడి అన్నదట.
pubodi ante, evarra bodi? ni ammabodi, ni akkabodi annadata.
When called 'flower-like maiden' (Pubodi), she replied 'Who is bald? Your mother is bald, your sister is bald'.
This proverb describes a situation where an ignorant person takes offense at a compliment or a sophisticated term because they misunderstand its meaning. 'Pubodi' is a poetic term for a beautiful woman (flower-like body), but the person in the proverb hears 'Bodi' (bald/shaven head) and reacts with insults due to their lack of vocabulary and quick temper.
Related Phrases
ఎనుము యీనినది రెడ్డి అంటే, నీకేమి కద్దే బొడ్డీ అన్నాడట.
enumu yininadi reddi ante, nikemi kadde boddi annadata.
When she said "O Reddi! your buffalo has calved," he replied "O Boddi! what's that to you?" The woman wanted some milk.
This proverb is used to tell people to mind their own business or to highlight that a particular piece of news or event has no relevance or benefit to the person reacting to it. It mocks those who get unnecessarily excited or involved in matters that do not concern them.
బోడి నెత్తిన టెంకాయ కొట్టినట్టు
bodi nettina tenkaya kottinattu
Like beating a shaven head with a cocoanut. As used to be done to a Sannyâsi ( religious mendicant ) by his disciples when he was about to die.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is being extremely harsh, blunt, or unkind to a vulnerable person. It signifies a lack of empathy or a direct, painful impact on someone who has no protection against the action.
బోడి తలకు బొడ్డు మల్లెలు ముడిచినట్టు
bodi talaku boddu mallelu mudichinattu
Like decorating a bald man with a jasmine garland. Boddu Malle is the Jasminum Sambac. Something being thrown away upon a person.
This expression is used to describe an attempt to decorate or improve something that lacks the necessary foundation or suitability. It refers to something that is out of place, mismatched, or a waste of effort because the underlying situation doesn't support the addition.
గ్రామశాంతికి బోడితల.
gramashantiki boditala.
[Shaving] a bald head, to [propitiate] the village goddess. No other will submit to the ignominy.
This proverb describes a situation where someone is unfairly singled out as a scapegoat to resolve a larger problem or to satisfy a ritualistic requirement. It refers to a person being sacrificed or humiliated (symbolized by shaving the head) for the supposed well-being of the community, often highlighting the absurdity of the solution or the innocence of the victim.
సవాశేరులో బోడి పరాచకమా?
savasherulo bodi parachakama?
A joke in a quarter-and-a-seer measure?
This proverb is used to criticize someone who makes inappropriate jokes or behaves lightheartedly during a serious, critical, or difficult situation. It implies that when things are already tense or scarce, there is no room for silliness.
రాత బొడిచినా చావు లేదు.
rata bodichina chavu ledu.
Even if you stab the written word, there is no death.
This proverb is used to describe an extremely stubborn, thick-skinned, or shameless person who remains unaffected by criticism, insults, or harsh words. It suggests that just as writing on a surface cannot be 'killed' by stabbing it, some people are immune to verbal rebukes or moral pressure.
నవాబు తల బోడి అయితే, నా తల కూడా బోడి అని వితంతువు విర్రవీగిందట.
navabu tala bodi ayite, na tala kuda bodi ani vitantuvu virravigindata.
When the Nawab's head was bald, a widow boasted that her head was bald too.
This proverb is used to mock someone who tries to equate their own misfortune or common condition with the status or actions of a powerful person. It highlights the foolishness of seeking pride or equality in a negative or irrelevant coincidence.
బోడి తలకు మొకాలికి ముడి
bodi talaku mokaliki mudi
Making a knot between the shaven head and the knee.
This refers to the way of trying to bring together two disparate things for a harmonious blend. When such an attempt is made, the listener understands the absurdity.
సవాకోటి లింగాలలో నా బోడి లింగం
savakoti lingalalo na bodi lingam
Among a crore and a quarter Shiva Lingas, my small/bald Linga.
This expression is used to describe a situation where an individual or a small entity is lost or goes unnoticed in a massive crowd or a vast collection. It signifies insignificance or the lack of individual identity when part of a huge group.
వూళ్ళో అందరూ బోడి అంటే, నీ అమ్మ బోడి, నీ అక్క బోడి అందట.
vullo andaru bodi ante, ni amma bodi, ni akka bodi andata.
When someone said the whole village is bald, she replied 'Your mother is bald, your sister is bald'.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks common sense or the ability to understand general context. Instead of understanding that a statement refers to a collective group (including themselves), they take it as a personal insult and react defensively by insulting the speaker back.