వంశం బొట్లంతమ్మా కడివెడు కల్లెట్లమ్మా వడబోసి అక్కడ పెట్టమ్మా వడవకున్న ఒట్టు బెట్టమా అందిట.
vamsham botlantamma kadivedu kalletlamma vadabosi akkada pettamma vadavakunna ottu bettama andita.
Our lineage is the size of a drop, mother; how can we have a potful of toddy? Filter it and keep it there; if it's not filtered, swear an oath, she said.
This proverb is used to mock someone who makes grand claims about their family or status while simultaneously being caught in a lie or showing their true, humble (or poor) circumstances. It highlights the absurdity of trying to maintain a high-status facade with contradictory or impossible excuses.
Related Phrases
గొంతమ్మ కోరికలు
gontamma korikalu
Gontamma's wishes.
This expression refers to endless, unrealistic, or extravagant demands that are difficult or impossible to fulfill. It is used to describe someone who keeps asking for more and more without any practical consideration or limit.
ఎక్కడికి పోతావు విధిమ్మా అంటే, వెంటనే వస్తాను పదమ్మా అన్నదట.
ekkadiki potavu vidhimma ante, ventane vastanu padamma annadata.
" Where are you going to Madam Fate?" asked one " I'll follow you, go on" she replied. The evil results of mixing with bad company.
This proverb is used to describe the inescapability of destiny or bad luck. It suggests that no matter where a person goes to escape their troubles or misfortune, their fate follows them closely. It is often used when someone tries to change their circumstances but encounters the same problems elsewhere.
కొడుకుల్ని కంటానత్తమ్మా అంటే వద్దంటానా కోడలమ్మా అందట
kodukulni kantanattamma ante vaddantana kodalamma andata
When the daughter-in-law said 'Mother-in-law, I will give birth to sons', the mother-in-law replied 'Would I ever say no to that, dear?'
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone offers to do something that is universally beneficial or obviously desirable. It highlights that no one would object to a proposal that brings only positive results or fulfills a common goal. It is often used sarcastically when someone states an obvious intention to do something good as if they are asking for permission.
ఎక్కడికి పోతావు విధవమ్మా అంటే వెంట వస్తాను పదవమ్మా అన్నదట
ekkadiki potavu vidhavamma ante venta vastanu padavamma annadata
When asked, 'Where are you going, O widow?', she replied, 'I am coming along with you, let us go.'
This proverb is used to describe a situation where an unwanted or persistent problem (or person) follows you no matter where you go or how you try to avoid it. It signifies an inescapable nuisance or a misfortune that sticks to a person regardless of their efforts to escape it.
విన్నమ్మ వీపు కాలింది, కన్నమ్మ కడుపు కాలింది
vinnamma vipu kalindi, kannamma kadupu kalindi
The back of the woman who heard burned, the stomach of the woman who gave birth burned.
This proverb contrasts the depth of empathy with biological maternal pain. It means that while a casual observer or neighbor (the one who heard) might feel a superficial or outward sympathy (back burning), only a mother (the one who gave birth) feels the true, deep, internal agony (stomach burning) when a child is in trouble. It is used to describe how a mother's suffering for her children is incomparable to anyone else's.
తీటమ్మ తీటమ్మ నీ నొసలు ఏమయింది అంటే, తిరుమణి పెడితే పొక్కింది అందిట
titamma titamma ni nosalu emayindi ante, tirumani pedite pokkindi andita
When asked 'Teetamma, what happened to your forehead?', she replied that it blistered because of the sacred vermilion.
Used to describe a person who makes lame or deceptive excuses to hide their own faults or bad habits. 'Teetamma' implies someone with a restless or troublesome nature who likely injured herself through her own mischief but blames a harmless, sacred mark (Tirumani) to gain sympathy or avoid blame.
విన్నమ్మ వీపు కాలినది, కన్నమ్మ కడుపు కాలినది
vinnamma vipu kalinadi, kannamma kadupu kalinadi
Vinnamma's back burned, Kannamma's belly burned. The first mourned the loss of a son-in-law, the second that of a son.— Kannamma signifies ' she who bore ; ' Vinnamma signifies ' she who heard' [ of the death.]
This proverb highlights the profound difference between superficial sympathy and true maternal grief. While an outsider (the one who hears the news) might feel a fleeting pain or 'burn' on the surface (the back), the biological mother (the one who gave birth) feels the intense, internal agony of a 'burning' womb/stomach. It is used to express that only those directly affected by a tragedy can truly understand its depth.
* Det kommer vel der ske skall.
ఎక్కడికి పోతావు విధవమ్మా అంటే, వెంటే వస్తాను పదవమ్మా అన్నదట
ekkadiki potavu vidhavamma ante, vente vastanu padavamma annadata
When asked 'Where are you going, widow?', she replied 'I am coming with you, come on'.
This proverb describes a situation where an unwanted or problematic person/problem attaches themselves to you no matter where you go or what you do. It is used to express frustration when one cannot get rid of a nuisance or a streak of bad luck that follows them everywhere.
చూచినమ్మ కళ్ళు శూలాలు, మా అమ్మ కళ్ళు పేలాలు
chuchinamma kallu shulalu, ma amma kallu pelalu
The eyes of the woman who saw are spears, my mother's eyes are popped grains (popcorn).
This proverb describes a double standard or partiality. It refers to a situation where a person criticizes or sees faults in others (comparing their gaze to painful spears) while viewing their own people's similar actions or flaws as harmless, soft, or pleasant (like light popped grains).
కాసుగలమ్మ కట్టావిప్పా వీసంగలమ్మ విడవా మడవా
kasugalamma kattavippa visangalamma vidava madava
The woman with gold won't untie her bundle; the woman with a small coin won't stop folding and unfolding hers.
This proverb highlights human behavior regarding wealth. A truly wealthy person stays calm and doesn't show off, whereas a person with very little wealth constantly fusses over it and displays it to everyone to feel important.