సాక్ష్యం చెప్పవే మానసా అంటే నోరు మూసుకొని నిద్రపో అందట
sakshyam cheppave manasa ante noru musukoni nidrapo andata
When asked to bear witness, the mind said 'Shut your mouth and go to sleep'
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is expected to speak the truth or take a stand chooses to remain silent or indifferent to avoid responsibility or trouble. It highlights the tendency of people to ignore their conscience or duty for the sake of convenience.
Related Phrases
పది భక్ష్యాలు తినే లక్ష్యయ్యకు ఒక భక్ష్యము లక్ష్యమా
padi bhakshyalu tine lakshyayyaku oka bhakshyamu lakshyama
For Lakshmayya who eats ten sweets, is one sweet a matter of concern?
This proverb is used to describe a person who handles large challenges or massive tasks effortlessly, implying that a minor version of that task is trivial for them. It plays on the name 'Lakshmayya' and the word 'Lakshyam' (target/concern). It is similar to saying 'A person used to dealing with thousands won't blink at a single rupee.'
కడి అంటే నోరు తెరచి, కళ్లెమంటే నోరు మూసినట్టు.
kadi ante noru terachi, kallemante noru musinattu.
Like [ a horse ] which opens its mouth for a morsel, and shuts it for the bridle.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is very eager and cooperative when there is a benefit or reward (like food) but becomes resistant or difficult when it is time to work or be disciplined (like putting on a horse's bridle). It highlights opportunistic or lazy behavior.
గుగ్గిళ్ళకు నోరు తెరచి, కళ్ళానికి నోరు మూసినట్టు
guggillaku noru terachi, kallaniki noru musinattu
Opening the mouth for boiled grains, but closing it for the threshing floor.
This proverb describes a person who is eager and greedy for small, immediate benefits (represented by a handful of boiled snacks/guggillu) but remains silent or fails to act when there is an opportunity for a much larger gain (represented by the entire harvest at the threshing floor/kallam). It is used to mock someone who lacks a sense of proportion or fails to recognize where the real profit lies.
కోమటి సాక్ష్యం
komati sakshyam
A merchant's testimony
This expression is used to describe a statement or evidence that is intentionally vague, non-committal, or deceptive. Just as a merchant might avoid taking a firm side to protect their business interests, 'Komati Sakshyam' refers to a testimony where the speaker avoids giving a direct answer or tries to please both parties without revealing the truth.
కోమటి సాక్ష్యము
komati sakshyamu
A Kômaṭi's evidence. A story is told of a Kômaṭi who, when asked to identify a horse about which a Mussalman and Hindu were quarrelling, said the forepart of it looked like the Mussalman's horse and the hindpart like the Hindu's.
This expression refers to a statement or testimony that is ambiguous, non-committal, or clever enough to avoid taking a definitive side. It is used to describe a situation where someone speaks in a way that protects their own interests while technically answering a question, often leaving the listener in confusion.
పిల్లికి ఎలుక సాక్ష్యం
pilliki eluka sakshyam
A rat testifying for a cat.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a culprit or an untrustworthy person produces a witness who is equally biased, unreliable, or under their control. It signifies a deceptive alliance where the witness is unlikely to speak the truth against the perpetrator.
నోరు మూస్తే మూగ, నోరు తెరిస్తే రోత
noru muste muga, noru teriste rota
If you shut up her mouth she remains like a dumb woman, if you let her open her mouth she's a vixen.
This expression is used to describe a person who seems decent or tolerable as long as they stay quiet, but as soon as they start speaking, they reveal their unpleasant nature, lack of sense, or rude behavior. It emphasizes that for some people, silence is their only redeeming quality.
ఉపాయం చెప్పవయ్యా అంటే ఉరితాడు తెచ్చుకో అన్నాట్ట
upayam cheppavayya ante uritadu techchuko annatta
When asked for a solution, he suggested getting a noose.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone asks for helpful advice or a solution to a problem, but receives a suggestion that is destructive, harmful, or worsens the situation rather than solving it. It highlights the foolishness or malice of a bad advisor.
కడి అంటే నోరు తెరిచి కళ్ళెమంటే మూసినట్లు
kadi ante noru terichi kallemante musinatlu
Opening the mouth for a morsel but closing it for the bridle.
This expression describes someone who is very eager and cooperative when there is a benefit (like being fed) but becomes uncooperative or stubborn when there is work to be done or discipline to be maintained (like being bridled). It is used to mock people who are opportunistic and shirk responsibilities.
అత్తా అత్తా ఎప్పుడు నిద్రపోతావంటే నిన్ను చంపిపోతా అందట
atta atta eppudu nidrapotavante ninnu champipota andata
When asked 'Mother-in-law, mother-in-law, when will you go to sleep?', she replied 'I will go after killing you'.
This proverb describes a situation where someone is waiting for an opportunity or for someone to leave/relax, but the other person is so stubborn or hostile that they refuse to give in or intend to cause harm before they yield. It is used to illustrate deep-seated animosity or someone being extremely difficult to deal with.