తులసి కోటలో ఉమ్మేసినావేమిరా అంటే, యజ్ఞవేదిక అనుకున్నాను అన్నాడట.
tulasi kotalo ummesinavemira ante, yajnyavedika anukunnanu annadata.
When a man was asked why he spat on the Tulasi-Kôṭa, he replied that he thought it was an altar. The irreverent answer of a sacrilegious sceptic, an altar being still more sacred.—Tulasi is the holy basil (Ocimum Sacrum). Tulasi-Kôṭa is the Telugu name for the altar-like bed in which it is grown, in the inner yard of a Hindu house.
This proverb is used to describe a person who tries to cover up a mistake or an insult with a ridiculous or even more offensive excuse. It highlights the absurdity of justifying a wrong action by claiming it was a different, yet still inappropriate, act. It is often applied to people who give foolish justifications for their blunders.
Related Phrases
తిన్న ఇల్లు గుద్దలించావేమిరా అంటే, తినని ఇంట్లోకి రానిస్తారా అన్నాడట.
tinna illu guddalinchavemira ante, tinani intloki ranistara annadata.
When asked why he was damaging the house where he ate, he replied, 'Will they let me into the house where I haven't eaten?'
This proverb is used to describe an ungrateful person who harms those who helped or sheltered them. It highlights the absurdity of justifying betrayal or destructive behavior against one's benefactors with flawed or cynical logic.
రాగిపోగులు తగిలించుకున్నావేమిరా అంటే, నీకు అవైనా లేవు కదా అన్నాడట.
ragipogulu tagilinchukunnavemira ante, niku avaina levu kada annadata.
When asked why he was wearing copper earrings, he replied that the other person didn't even have those.
This expression describes a person who tries to hide their own inferiority or low-quality choices by pointing out that others have nothing at all. It is used to mock someone who is overly proud of something insignificant or cheap, or someone who uses others' lack of resources to justify their own poor standards.
తిన్న ఇంటి వాసాలు లెక్కపెట్టడం
tinna inti vasalu lekkapettadam
When a man was asked why he was counting the rafters of the house in which he had been well treated, he replied, " Would they allow me to do it in the next house ?"
This expression describes extreme ingratitude or backstabbing. It refers to a person who, after receiving help or hospitality from someone, looks for ways to harm them or takes advantage of their host's kindness. In the full version of the proverb, when asked why he is being so ungrateful, the person foolishly justifies his malice by saying he would do the same elsewhere.
Gross ingratitude. I taught you to swim, and now you'd drown me.
ఏమిరా వెర్రిమొఖమా అంటే, ఏమి చిన్నాయనా అన్నాడంట.
emira verrimokhama ante, emi chinnayana annadanta.
When asked 'What is it, you foolish-faced one?', he replied, 'What is it, dear uncle?'
This proverb is used to describe someone who is so oblivious, thick-skinned, or foolish that they mistake a blatant insult for a term of endearment or a friendly greeting. It highlights a lack of self-respect or an inability to understand the tone and intent of others' words.
తులసి కోటలో ఉమ్మేశావేమిరా అంటే, యజ్ఞవేదిక అనుకున్నాను అన్నాడట
tulasi kotalo ummeshavemira ante, yajnyavedika anukunnanu annadata
When asked 'Why did you spit in the Tulasi altar?', he replied 'I thought it was a sacrificial altar (Yagna Vedika)'.
This proverb describes a situation where someone tries to cover up a mistake with an even more absurd or offensive excuse. It refers to people who justify a wrong action by claiming they mistook the situation for something else, which in reality is equally inappropriate or illogical. It highlights the behavior of offering ridiculous justifications for blatant blunders.
కుక్క తోక వంకర, ఎంతటికీ గుణము మానను అన్నదట.
kukka toka vankara, entatiki gunamu mananu annadata.
A dog's tail is crooked; it said it won't change its nature.
This expression is used to describe a person who refuses to change their inherent bad habits or character, regardless of how much advice they receive or how much effort is made to reform them. It is similar to the English proverb 'A leopard cannot change its spots'.
ఏమిరా కోటా అంటే ఎప్పటిదే ఆట అన్నాడట
emira kota ante eppatide ata annadata
When asked 'What's the status, Kota?', he replied 'The same old game'.
This proverb is used to describe a situation or a person that never changes despite the passage of time or changing circumstances. It signifies stagnation, a lack of progress, or someone sticking to their old, often repetitive or unproductive ways.
సత్రంలో ఉచ్చబోస్తున్నావేమిరా అంటే- దేవాలయం అనుకొన్నాలే అన్నాడట.
satramlo uchchabostunnavemira ante- devalayam anukonnale annadata.
When asked why he was urinating in the choultry (rest house), he replied that he thought it was a temple.
This expression is used to describe a person who tries to justify a mistake or a bad deed by offering an even more absurd or worse excuse. It highlights the foolishness of trying to cover up a minor offense with a logic that implies a much greater sacrilege or ignorance.
పట్టపగలు కన్నము వేస్తావేమిరా అంటే, నా కక్కురితి నీకు ఏమి తెలుసును అన్నాడట.
pattapagalu kannamu vestavemira ante, na kakkuriti niku emi telusunu annadata.
A burglar being asked why he was house-breaking in the day time, replied " What do you know of my necessities?" Distress tempts to crime.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is so driven by greed or extreme necessity that they abandon all common sense, shame, or fear of consequences. It highlights how someone might do something blatantly foolish or risky just to satisfy their immediate urges or needs.
పట్టపగలు కన్నం వేస్తావేమిరా అంటే, నా కొడుకు కక్కుర్తి నీకేమి తెలుసును అన్నాడట
pattapagalu kannam vestavemira ante, na koduku kakkurti nikemi telusunu annadata
When asked, 'Why are you committing a burglary in broad daylight?', he replied, 'What do you know about my son's desperate greed?'
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone performs a reckless or shameful act out of extreme desperation or greed, and then tries to justify it with an even more absurd or personal excuse. It highlights how some people lose their sense of shame when driven by intense desire or necessity.