పురాణం విన్నప్పుడు పుట్టెడు బుద్దులు, అవతలపోతే అడవి బుద్దులు
puranam vinnappudu puttedu buddulu, avatalapote adavi buddulu
A basketful of wisdom while listening to the Puranas, but wild/uncivilized behavior once stepped away.
This proverb describes a person's hypocrisy or fickle nature. It refers to someone who appears very pious and moral while listening to religious discourses or moral advice, but immediately reverts to their old, bad habits once they leave the environment. It is used to criticize those who do not practice what they hear or preach.
Related Phrases
పొట్టివానికి పుట్టెడు బుద్ధులు
pottivaniki puttedu buddhulu
A short person has a basketful of brains.
This proverb is used to suggest that what a person lacks in physical stature or height, they often make up for with extreme cleverness, wit, or cunningness. It implies that short people are exceptionally sharp-minded.
పొట్టి వాడికి పుట్టెడు బుద్ధులు
potti vadiki puttedu buddhulu
A short man has a Putti of wisdom.
This is a popular Telugu saying used to imply that short-statured people are exceptionally clever, cunning, or resourceful. The term 'Puttadu' refers to a large traditional measuring unit, suggesting that their intelligence is disproportionately large compared to their height.
గంపదింపుడు ఘనమాయె, పూర్వపు బుద్ధులు పోవాయె
gampadimpudu ghanamaye, purvapu buddhulu povaye
Putting down the basket became a grand ritual, but old habits didn't go away.
This expression is used to describe a person who claims to have changed or gained a high status but continues to display their old, often negative, character or habits. It highlights the hypocrisy of pretending to be refined while remaining unchanged at heart.
నామాలు పెట్టినంత మాత్రాన చావు బుద్ధులు పోతాయా?
namalu pettinanta matrana chavu buddhulu potaya?
Just because one wears sacred marks, will their wicked nature disappear?
This expression is used to highlight that external appearances, religious symbols, or a change in attire do not change a person's inherent character or malicious intent. It is often used to criticize hypocrites who pretend to be virtuous while remaining deceptive or cruel at heart.
గొల్ల నుద్దులు, పిల్ల ముద్దులు
golla nuddulu, pilla muddulu
The shepherd's nap and a child's kisses.
This proverb refers to things that are brief and short-lived. A shepherd's sleep is interrupted by the flock, just as a child's kiss is fleeting. It is used to describe tasks or moments that do not last long.
అత్త బుద్ధి, కోడలు బుద్ధి ఒకటవుతాయా?
atta buddhi, kodalu buddhi okatavutaya?
Will the mother-in-law's mindset and the daughter-in-law's mindset ever be the same?
This proverb highlights the inherent differences in perspectives, upbringing, and priorities between two people of different roles or generations. It is typically used to explain why conflicts or misunderstandings arise between people in a relationship, suggesting that their ways of thinking are naturally distinct and unlikely to perfectly align.
ఎద్దుకు గడ్డి, పీతకు బుద్ధి
edduku gaddi, pitaku buddhi
The porcupine has sense in the back of its head. Said of a man without brains.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone behaves perversely or acts contrary to logic and common sense. It highlights a mismatch in expectations or a stubborn, backward way of thinking, much like how a crab moves sideways instead of straight.
పొట్టివాడికి పుట్టెడు బుద్ధులు
pottivadiki puttedu buddhulu
A short person has a basketful of brains/wisdom.
This is a popular Telugu saying used to suggest that what a person lacks in physical stature, they make up for with extreme cleverness, wit, or cunning. It is often used playfully or as a cautionary remark about not underestimating someone based on their small height.
చేటు కాలానికి చెడ్డ బుద్దులు
chetu kalaniki chedda buddulu
Bad thoughts come during bad times.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person starts making poor decisions or loses their sense of judgment when they are facing a period of misfortune or ruin. It suggests that one's intellect or character often declines when their downfall is near.
చెడుకాలానికి చెడు బుద్దులు
chedukalaniki chedu buddulu
Bad thoughts/ideas for bad times
This expression is used to describe a situation where a person starts making poor decisions or thinking negatively when they are going through a bad phase or facing a downfall. It suggests that one's intellect often fails or misleads them when their fortune is at its lowest.