శంకరా శంకరా అంటే మూతి వంకర పోతుందాన్నట్లు
shankara shankara ante muti vankara potundannatlu
Just because you say 'Shankara Shankara', will your mouth become crooked?
This proverb is used to mock someone's irrational fear or superstition that performing a simple, good, or harmless act will lead to a ridiculous physical deformity or negative consequence. It is often used to encourage someone to stop making excuses and just do what is necessary.
Related Phrases
వంకర టింకర కాయలు ఏమిటివి అంటే, చిన్ననాడు అమ్మిన చింతకాయలు అన్నాడట
vankara tinkara kayalu emitivi ante, chinnanadu ammina chintakayalu annadata
When she asked "What are those crooked pods?" they re- plied "The unripe tamarinds you sold in your youth." The story goes that the daughter of very poor parents who in her youth had to go about selling the unripe tamarinds she was able to gather from under the trees, afterwards became the wife of a rich man. Passing through the streets one day in her grand palankin, she superciliously enquired what a tamarind girl was selling, when her bearers replied as above, "These are the tamarinds Madam, which you sold in your youth." To take one a peg lower. You used to be a baker though now you wear gloves. (Spanish.)
This proverb is used to describe someone who tries to justify their current mistakes or poor behavior by linking them to past habits or experiences. It also mocks people who give obvious or silly explanations for things that are common knowledge, pretending as if they have discovered something unique.
చింతకాయలు బేరంచేస్తూ, వంకరటింకర కాయలేమి అన్నట్లు
chintakayalu beranchestu, vankaratinkara kayalemi annatlu
While bargaining for tamarinds, asking why they are crooked.
This proverb is used to describe someone who finds fault in the natural or inherent characteristics of an object or situation just to get a lower price or to criticize for the sake of it. Since tamarinds are naturally crooked, complaining about their shape while trying to buy them is illogical and hypocritical.
చచ్చేటప్పుడు శంభో శంకరా అంటే
chachchetappudu shambho shankara ante
If one says 'Shambho Shankara' while dying
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone tries to fix a problem or seek redemption at the very last moment, often when it is too late for the effort to be meaningful or effective. It highlights the futility of eleventh-hour realisations or actions after a lifetime of neglect.
తలపాగా చుట్టలేక తల వంకర అన్నట్లు
talapaga chuttaleka tala vankara annatlu
Like saying the head is crooked because one doesn't know how to tie a turban
This expression describes a situation where someone blames external factors or others for their own lack of skill or failure. It is similar to the English proverb: 'A bad workman always blames his tools.'
చచ్చేటప్పుడు శంకరా శంకరా అన్నాడట
chachchetappudu shankara shankara annadata
When he was at the point of death he cried "Śankara! Śankara!" (Siva.) Deathbed repentance.
This proverb is used to describe someone who waits until the very last moment or a crisis to seek help, turn to God, or do the right thing. It refers to a person who ignores their duties or avoids spiritual/ethical paths throughout their life, only to become desperately 'pious' or 'diligent' when they realize time has run out.
నలుపు నాలుగు వంకరలు చూపుతుంది, ఎరుపు ఏడు వంకరలు దాస్తుంది
nalupu nalugu vankaralu chuputundi, erupu edu vankaralu dastundi
Black reveals four curves, while red hides seven curves.
This traditional Telugu proverb highlights the visual properties of colors in relation to physical appearance. It suggests that darker colors (black) tend to emphasize flaws, bends, or physical imperfections in an object or person, whereas brighter colors (specifically red) can mask or hide many more imperfections, making things look more attractive or seamless than they actually are.
వంకాయ వంటి కూరలేదు, శంకరుని వంటి దైవము లేదు
vankaya vanti kuraledu, shankaruni vanti daivamu ledu
There is no vegetable like the eggplant, and there is no God like Lord Shiva.
This is a popular Telugu saying used to emphasize the excellence or superiority of something. Just as the eggplant (Brinjal) is considered the 'king of vegetables' for its versatility and taste in Telugu cuisine, Lord Shiva is regarded as the supreme deity. It is used to highlight that certain things are incomparable in their respective categories.
ఆడలేక అంగణం వంకర అన్నట్లు
adaleka anganam vankara annatlu
Like saying the courtyard is crooked because one cannot dance.
This expression is used to describe a person who lacks skill or fails at a task, but blames external circumstances or their environment instead of admitting their own deficiency. It is the Telugu equivalent of the English proverb: 'A bad workman quarrels with his tools.'
వంకర టింకరగా ఉన్నదానికీ, కంకర దెబ్బే మందు.
vankara tinkaraga unnadaniki, kankara debbe mandu.
For something that is crooked, a blow with a stone is the only medicine.
This proverb is used to suggest that stubborn, crooked, or ill-mannered people only learn or change when dealt with firmly or harshly. It implies that soft words do not work on certain characters; they require a 'hard hit' or strong disciplinary action to be straightened out.
వంకాయ వంటి కూర లేదు, శంకరుడి వంటి దైవం లేదు
vankaya vanti kura ledu, shankarudi vanti daivam ledu
There is no vegetable like Brinjal, and there is no God like Lord Shankara.
This is a popular Telugu saying used to emphasize the superiority or excellence of something. It suggests that just as the brinjal (eggplant) is considered the king of vegetables for its versatility and taste, Lord Shiva (Shankara) is the supreme deity. It is used to express that certain things are incomparable in their respective categories.