వగలమారి వంకాయ సెగలేకనే సగమయినది.
vagalamari vankaya segalekane sagamayinadi.
The feigning brinjal shrunk into half its size, when there was no heat. Simulating fear.
This proverb is used to describe a person who puts on excessive airs or makes a huge fuss over nothing. It refers to someone who acts exhausted, sick, or defeated even before facing any real hardship or effort, often to gain sympathy or avoid work.
* Hij verdient een' stuiver en heeft wel voor een' braspenning dorst. † Ex uno specta omnia. ‡ Ex pede Herculem.
Related Phrases
ఆదాయములేకనే శెట్టి వరదబోడు
adayamulekane shetti varadabodu
Without [ the hope of ] gain, a Śetti will not venture into the flood.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is extremely calculative and opportunistic. It suggests that a shrewd individual (often metaphorically a merchant) will not take a risk or perform an action unless there is a clear personal gain or benefit involved.
The Śetti (merchants) are very greedy and very cowardly.
వంకాయ కూరకు టెంకాయ మసాలా
vankaya kuraku tenkaya masala
Coconut spice/masala for brinjal curry
This expression refers to a perfect combination or an ideal match. Just as coconut masala enhances the taste of brinjal curry, it is used to describe two things or people that complement each other perfectly to produce a great result.
నీ వగలమాటలకు నా మొగుణ్ణి చంపుకుంటి
ni vagalamatalaku na mogunni champukunti
For your cunning/seductive words, I killed my own husband.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone has been so thoroughly deceived by another person's sweet talk or false pretenses that they have made a grave, irreversible mistake or a massive sacrifice, only to be left with nothing. It highlights the foolishness of trusting manipulative words over reality.
కొన్నది వంకాయ, కొసరింది గుమ్మడికాయ
konnadi vankaya, kosarindi gummadikaya
Bought a brinjal, but asked for a pumpkin as a free extra.
This proverb describes a person who buys something very small or cheap but expects a disproportionately large or valuable item for free (kosaru). It is used to mock someone's unreasonable greed or lack of proportion in dealings.
మణుగు సగము, మైలా సగమే.
manugu sagamu, maila sagame.
Half purity, half impurity.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks consistency or a situation that is neither here nor there. It refers to someone who tries to follow traditional customs (purity) but fails to do so completely (impurity), resulting in a state of confusion or hypocrisy. It characterizes an inconsistent or messy approach to tasks.
కొన్నది వంకాయ, కొసరినది గుమ్మడికాయ
konnadi vankaya, kosarinadi gummadikaya
What he bought was a brinjal, what he got to boot was a gourd.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone demands or expects a free addition (bonus) that is far more valuable or larger than the actual item they paid for. It highlights greediness or unreasonable expectations in transactions.
కాలం మారి కంచు పెంకయినట్లు
kalam mari kanchu penkayinatlu
Like bronze turning into a potsherd when times change
This expression refers to a drastic decline in one's status or wealth due to a change in circumstances or bad luck. It describes a situation where something once precious and valuable (bronze) becomes worthless and fragile (a broken piece of clay) because of the turn of time.
వగలమారి వంకాయ సెగలేక ఉడికినదట
vagalamari vankaya segaleka udikinadata
The flirtatious brinjal is said to have cooked without any heat.
This expression is used to mock someone who makes impossible or exaggerated claims about their abilities or achievements. It highlights the absurdity of claiming a result (cooking) without the necessary means (heat/fire), often used to describe people who pretend to be highly efficient or magical to hide their laziness or deceit.
వగలమారి వంకాయ సెగ తాకగానే సగమైంది
vagalamari vankaya sega takagane sagamaindi
The boastful eggplant became half its size as soon as it felt the heat.
This proverb is used to describe people who act arrogant or showy when things are easy, but quickly lose their confidence or 'shrink' when faced with actual pressure, heat, or difficulty. It highlights how false bravado disappears under testing conditions.
వంకాయ దొంగిలించినవాడు టెంకాయ దొంగిలించడా?
vankaya dongilinchinavadu tenkaya dongilinchada?
Will a man who steals a brinjal not steal a coconut?
This proverb suggests that a person who commits a small crime or dishonesty is likely to commit a larger one given the opportunity. It emphasizes that a lack of integrity starts small but can escalate, and one's character is judged by even minor actions. It is used to warn people not to trust someone who has a history of even trivial dishonesty.