తిమ్మన్నా తిమ్మన్నా నమస్కారము అన్నాడట; నా పేరు నీకు యెట్లా తెలిసినది అంటే, నీ ముఖం చూడగానే తెలిసినది అన్నాడట.

timmanna timmanna namaskaramu annadata; na peru niku yetla telisinadi ante, ni mukham chudagane telisinadi annadata.

Translation

" Timmanna! Timmanna! I salute you" cried one—"How do you know my name?" said the other. "I knew it directly I saw your face" replied the first.

Meaning

This proverb is used to mock someone who tries to act clever by stating the obvious or using circular logic. Thimmanna is a generic name often used for a monkey; seeing a monkey's face makes it obvious it's a 'Thimmanna'. It describes a situation where a person provides a silly or self-evident explanation for something as if it were a great insight.

Related Phrases

When she said "O Reddi! your buffalo has calved," he replied "O Boddi! what's that to you?" The woman wanted some milk.

This proverb is used to tell people to mind their own business or to highlight that a particular piece of news or event has no relevance or benefit to the person reacting to it. It mocks those who get unnecessarily excited or involved in matters that do not concern them.

Climb the pole Thimmanna, jump around Thimmanna

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is being overly coaxed or encouraged to perform a task by using flattery or constant cheering. It often refers to a person who performs stunts or work merely for the sake of public praise or when others are eggs them on.

When one said "Kādu, Kādu" the other said "Nādi, Nādi."

This proverb describes a situation where someone persistently tries to claim ownership or credit for something even after being explicitly told it doesn't belong to them or is incorrect. It is used to mock people who are shamelessly stubborn or opportunistic despite being rejected.

Kādu in Telugu means " it is not," "no;" in Tamil it signifies " the ear." A Telugu man on one occasion accidentally stuck the barb of his spear into a Tamilian's ear, on which the latter cried out "Kādu! Kādu!" ( My ear! my ear! ) The Telugu man thinking he meant to say " Not yours, not yours" pulled at the spear all the harder, saying "Nādi! Nādi!" (It's mine! it's mine!). Said to a man who is obstinate in argument.

When asked why he was washing his hair on Ekadashi, he said it's a daily ritual he started today; when asked the next day why he wasn't washing it, he said the ritual ended yesterday.

This proverb is used to describe a lazy or hypocritical person who makes up convenient excuses on the spot to justify their actions. It mocks people who pretend to follow strict rules or vows only when it suits them, and immediately abandon them when it requires actual effort or consistency.

To a set of monkey-like scamps tasteless broth and plain rice [ should be served ].

This expression refers to a situation where the hospitality or the arrangements are exactly as expected, or where something modest is offered with great affection. It is often used to describe a simple, satisfying meal or a specific routine where one is content with what is provided by a particular host.

Sweet rasam rice for Thimmanna's feast.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is extremely satisfied with something very simple or mediocre, often because they have low expectations or are easily pleased. It can also imply a modest gathering where simple food is enjoyed thoroughly.

Like saying 'I was invited to Thimmanna's feast'

This expression is used to describe a person who behaves with excessive entitlement or self-importance at an event just because they were invited. It highlights the irony of someone acting like they are the guest of honor or the owner of the place when they are just one of many invitees.

"What! are you anointing your head on the Ékâdaśi?" said one, "That is a daily task, which I have commenced to- day," replied the other. When asked next day "Why have you not anointed your head?" he said "Yesterday completed my task." Said in joke of a man who does not observe the ceremonial laws.

This proverb describes a hypocrite or a lazy person who makes up convenient excuses to suit their whims. It refers to people who justify their actions with grand promises when it's convenient, but abandon those same principles immediately when they no longer wish to follow them. It is used to mock inconsistent behavior and flimsy rationalizations.

Although he knew the pit well, he fell into it.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone intentionally makes a mistake or gets into trouble despite being fully aware of the consequences or the danger beforehand.

When someone said, 'Greetings, Timmanna,' and he asked, 'How do you know my name?', the reply was, 'I knew it as soon as I saw your face.'

This proverb is used to describe a person whose character or foolishness is so obvious that it is written all over their face. It mockingly suggests that someone looks exactly like their name or reputation implies, typically used when someone's identity or traits are self-evident due to their behavior or appearance.