తాను పట్టిన కుందేలుకు మూడే కాళ్ళు.

tanu pattina kundeluku mude kallu.

Translation

For the hare he has caught there are only three legs. (Note the absurdity of the

Meaning

Some people become dogmatic and argue that the most absurd is the most reasonable. We should be prepared to accept the weakness of our argument and be ready to learn from others.

Related Phrases

Like a pest attacking before the flowering stage.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a project, idea, or life stage is ruined or faces major obstacles right at its inception or even before it has had a chance to begin properly. It signifies early misfortune or premature failure.

The pot broken by the mother-in-law was a cracked pot, the pot broken by the daughter-in-law was a new pot.

This proverb highlights double standards and hypocrisy in judgment. It describes a situation where the same mistake is viewed differently depending on who committed it. If someone in a superior position (like a mother-in-law) makes a mistake, it is dismissed as insignificant, but if a subordinate (like a daughter-in-law) makes the same mistake, it is exaggerated and treated as a major offense.

It is like digging up a mountain to catch a mouse.

A fruitless endeavor considering what is obtained by the effort. Sometimes, one makes herculean efforts but achieves precious little.

Whatever one touches/holds, it is as if a ghost has possessed it.

This expression is used to describe someone who goes to extremes or becomes obsessively persistent in whatever task they undertake. It can also refer to someone who consistently encounters bad luck or complications in every endeavor they start, as if it were cursed or jinxed.

The pot broken by the daughter-in-law is a new pot, while the pot broken by the mother-in-law is a worthless pot.

This proverb highlights double standards and hypocrisy in judging actions. It refers to how people often exaggerate the mistakes of others (the daughter-in-law) while minimizing or making excuses for their own or their favorites' mistakes (the mother-in-law).

When the dog which had eaten [ the food ] ran off, he caught hold of another dog and broke its leg. Making the innocent suffer for the guilty.

This proverb describes a situation where the actual culprit escapes, and an innocent person who happens to be nearby is punished for the crime. It is used to highlight injustice or a lapse in judgement where the wrong person is held accountable for someone else's mistake.

Worm eaten before blossoming.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a project or an endeavor faces significant problems or failure right at its inception, before it even has a chance to develop or show progress.

Premature. Precocious.

A sharpened knife and a woman in captivity.

This expression describes items or individuals that are in their most effective or dangerous state. Just as a knife is most useful when sharpened (tari), a person (historically used in the context of a captive woman or 'kutthi' meaning a young woman/slave) is most vulnerable or completely under someone's control. In modern usage, it highlights the peak state of readiness or the absolute influence one holds over something.

Like a rabbit licking its own leg

This expression is used to describe a person who is overly self-satisfied or takes immense pride in their own small achievements, often ignoring the bigger picture or failing to realize that their actions are self-serving and of little consequence to others.

When the time is right, a rabbit will come into the middle of the house.

This proverb signifies that when fortune is on your side, success and opportunities will find you effortlessly without much struggle. It is used to describe a period of extreme good luck where even unexpected gains occur naturally.