వాన బడాయి చవిటిమీద, మొగుడి బడాయి ఆలిమీద
vana badayi chavitimida, mogudi badayi alimida
The rain's boasting is over alkaline soil, and the husband's boasting is over his wife.
This proverb is used to describe someone who shows off their power or authority only over those who are weak or unable to resist. Just as rain makes a big impact on barren alkaline soil (where it serves no productive purpose) but is insignificant elsewhere, some men display their dominance only over their wives because they cannot exert influence in the outside world.
Related Phrases
బందరు బడాయి, గుంటూరు లడాయి
bandaru badayi, gunturu ladayi
Bandar's boastfulness, Guntur's pugnacity
This proverb characterizes the cultural traits traditionally associated with two Andhra cities: Bandar (Machilipatnam) and Guntur. It suggests that people from Bandar are known for their grand talk, style, or vanity (badayi), whereas people from Guntur are known for their hot-tempered, confrontational, or argumentative nature (ladayi). It is used to humorously generalize the temperaments of individuals based on their origin from these regions.
నన్ను ఎరిగినవాడు లేకపోతే, నా బడాయి చూడమన్నట్లు.
nannu eriginavadu lekapote, na badayi chudamannatlu.
If there is no one who knows me, look at my bragging.
This proverb describes a situation where a person boasts or makes grand claims about themselves in a place where no one knows their true background or past. It is used to mock someone who takes advantage of others' ignorance to inflate their own status.
భర్త బడాయి భార్య మీదనే
bharta badayi bharya midane
A husband's boasting is only over his wife
This expression is used to describe someone who acts arrogant or powerful only towards those who are dependent on them or cannot retaliate, while being timid or insignificant in front of others. It highlights selective bravery or false pride shown within the safety of one's home.
స్థాన బలిమి కానీ తన బలిమి కాదయా
sthana balimi kani tana balimi kadaya
It is the strength of the position, not the strength of the person.
This expression emphasizes that a person's power or influence often comes from the position or office they hold rather than their innate abilities. It is used to remind people that once they lose their status or position, their perceived power will also vanish.
కత్తిమీద సాము
kattimida samu
Fencing on a sword
This expression is used to describe a situation that is extremely risky, precarious, or requires great skill and caution to handle without causing a disaster. It is synonymous with 'walking on a tightrope' or 'skating on thin ice'.
బతుకు తక్కువైనా బడాయి ఎక్కువ
batuku takkuvaina badayi ekkuva
Even if life is low, the boasting is high
This expression describes a person who lives in humble or poor conditions but pretends to be very wealthy or superior. It is used to criticize someone who shows off excessively despite having no real status or resources to back it up.
డబ్బులేనివాడి బడాయి చేతగాని బడాయి
dabbulenivadi badayi chetagani badayi
The boasting of a man without money is the boasting of an incompetent man.
This expression is used to mock someone who brags or talks big despite lacking the financial means or the actual capability to back up their claims. It suggests that empty boasting by someone without resources is meaningless and ineffective.
బడాయి బండిమీద పోవడమేగాని బత్తానికి నూకలు లేవు
badayi bandimida povadamegani battaniki nukalu levu
Travelling on a grand carriage of vanity, but having no broken rice for daily sustenance.
This expression is used to describe a person who puts on an expensive or grand outward display of wealth and status, while in reality, they are struggling to afford even basic necessities. It mocks the act of prioritizing vanity and social status over practical needs and survival.
ఆలులేని బడాయి నీళ్ళు తోడమన్నట్లు.
aluleni badayi nillu todamannatlu.
Like a man who boasts without having a wife, asking her to draw water.
This proverb is used to describe someone who makes grand, empty boasts or gives orders based on things they don't actually possess. It highlights the absurdity of pretending to have authority or status when the foundation for it is missing.
వాన బడాయి చవిటి మీద, మాల బడాయి పాటి మీద, భర్త బడాయి భార్య మీద.
vana badayi chaviti mida, mala badayi pati mida, bharta badayi bharya mida.
The rain's pride is on the alkaline soil, the laborer's pride is on the village mound, the husband's pride is over his wife.
This proverb describes where certain entities show off their power or influence. Just as rain is most noticeable on barren alkaline soil and a laborer takes pride in their specific dwelling area, a person often displays their dominance or arrogance where they have easy authority, such as a husband over his wife in a traditional domestic context. It is used to mock those who show strength only over the vulnerable or in limited domains.