తాతా పెండ్లాడుతావా అంటే, నాకెవడిస్తాడురా అబ్బా అన్నాడట.

tata pendladutava ante, nakevadistadura abba annadata.

Translation

When the grandfather was asked whether he would like to be married, he said, " Who will give me [ a daughter, ] my boy?"

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is secretly very eager or desperate for something, but pretends to be hesitant or realistic about the obstacles. It highlights a hidden desire that is immediately revealed when a suggestion is made, often used to mock someone who is overly willing despite their age or circumstances.

Related Phrases

When asked to speak auspicious words, the groom said all the married women at the wedding are his senior wives.

This proverb is used to describe a person who says something incredibly foolish, offensive, or inappropriate when asked to speak or act properly. It highlights the irony of someone ruining a positive situation by being tactless or utterly lacking common sense.

When a six-year-old boy finally said 'Mother', his mother was supposedly amazed.

This expression is used to mock someone who takes an excessively long time to do something basic or obvious, and then expects praise or wonder for it. It highlights that the achievement is actually delayed and overdue rather than being a cause for genuine surprise.

When asked 'Shall I tie a blindfold, Basavanna?', he said 'No', but when asked 'Will you eat boiled grains?', he said 'Yes'.

This proverb is used to describe a person who avoids hard work or responsibility but is the first one to show up for benefits or food. It highlights opportunism and laziness.

When a man expressed his trust in Râmanna, the latter promised to make him as great a man as himself. Râmanna was really a beggar though pretending to be a great man.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone's trust or reliance on another person results in them being dragged down to that person's level of misfortune or mediocrity. It warns about trusting people who are in a bad state themselves, as they might end up making your situation as bad as theirs.

My blow made even Golconda cry 'Abba' (Ouch)

This expression is used to describe someone who is overly boastful or exaggerates their own strength and achievements. It depicts a person claiming that their single strike or action was so powerful that it resonated through the entire Golconda fort, making it cry out in pain.

When asked 'Who would you have married if not for me?', she replied 'Someone just like your father's son would have been born'.

This proverb is used to deflate someone's ego when they think they are indispensable or unique. It suggests that the world doesn't stop for one person and a suitable replacement or a similar person will always be available to fill a role.

All shame is gone, junior wife; shall we at least go to the wedding, senior wife?

This expression is used to describe a person who lacks self-respect or has already lost their reputation and continues to act shamelessly without concern for social standing. It highlights a situation where someone, having already suffered a major embarrassment or failure, behaves as if nothing happened or tries to seek further social engagement despite their loss of dignity.

When asked 'Wife, do you have any work or chores?', she replied 'Let's go to sleep'.

This proverb is used to describe someone who is extremely lazy or avoids responsibilities. It highlights a situation where, when prompted to be productive or do some work, a person suggests resting or sleeping instead of contributing.

When addressed [by his son] in the bazar as "Father," he replied, "Son! unto whom wert thou born?"

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone makes a general remark or expresses pain/need, and a stranger or bystander responds with an unnecessarily intrusive, mocking, or irrelevant personal question. It highlights the lack of empathy or the absurdity of some people's reactions to others' distress in public.

Want of natural affection. Selfish indifference.

When an elderly bridegroom was jokingly asked to say something funny, he replied " All the married ladies who have come to the marriage are my old wives." A person making himself ridiculous.

This proverb is used to describe someone who lacks common sense or humility, and instead of taking a compliment or a suggestion gracefully, they respond with an absurd, arrogant, or inappropriate remark. It mocks a person who, despite being in an awkward or late-stage situation (like an old man getting married), acts with unearned overconfidence or makes foolish claims that embarrass themselves.