వంకర టింకరగా ఉన్నదానికీ, కంకర దెబ్బే మందు.
vankara tinkaraga unnadaniki, kankara debbe mandu.
For something that is crooked, a blow with a stone is the only medicine.
This proverb is used to suggest that stubborn, crooked, or ill-mannered people only learn or change when dealt with firmly or harshly. It implies that soft words do not work on certain characters; they require a 'hard hit' or strong disciplinary action to be straightened out.
Related Phrases
ఇరుగు ఇంగలం పొరుగు మంగలం
irugu ingalam porugu mangalam
The neighbors are fire and the surroundings are soot (or bad omens).
This proverb is used to describe a situation where one is surrounded by difficult or troublesome neighbors on all sides. It implies that no matter which way you turn, there is conflict or negativity, making it impossible to live in peace.
ఇద్దరు కూడితే ఇంగలం లేకుండానే మంట మండుతుంది
iddaru kudite ingalam lekundane manta mandutundi
When two people join together, a fire can burn even without charcoal.
This proverb is used to describe how gossip, conflicts, or conspiracies originate when two like-minded people with negative intentions get together. It suggests that their combined influence or conversation is enough to ignite trouble or spread rumors without any external spark or factual basis.
వెన్న పెట్టితే మింగలేదు, వేలు పెట్టితే కరవలేదు.
venna pettite mingaledu, velu pettite karavaledu.
If you give him butter he cannot swallow it, if you give him your finger he cannot bite it.
This expression is used to describe a person who appears extremely innocent, naive, or passive to the point of being helpless or dull-witted. It often refers to someone who lacks the basic initiative or reaction expected in common situations.
As demure as if butter would not melt in his mouth, and yet cheese will not choke him.
చచ్చేటప్పుడు శంకరా శంకరా అన్నాడట
chachchetappudu shankara shankara annadata
When he was at the point of death he cried "Śankara! Śankara!" (Siva.) Deathbed repentance.
This proverb is used to describe someone who waits until the very last moment or a crisis to seek help, turn to God, or do the right thing. It refers to a person who ignores their duties or avoids spiritual/ethical paths throughout their life, only to become desperately 'pious' or 'diligent' when they realize time has run out.
శంకరా శంకరా అంటే మూతి వంకర పోతుందాన్నట్లు
shankara shankara ante muti vankara potundannatlu
Just because you say 'Shankara Shankara', will your mouth become crooked?
This proverb is used to mock someone's irrational fear or superstition that performing a simple, good, or harmless act will lead to a ridiculous physical deformity or negative consequence. It is often used to encourage someone to stop making excuses and just do what is necessary.
మీ ఇంట ఇంగలం మా ఇంట మంగలం అన్నాడట.
mi inta ingalam ma inta mangalam annadata.
He said, 'There is fire in your house, and there is a burning pan in mine.'
This proverb describes a situation involving a highly selfish or hypocritical person. It refers to someone who wants to borrow something from others (represented by 'ingalam' or fire/embers) even when they already possess it themselves, or someone who expects others to share their resources while keeping their own for themselves. It is used to mock people who pretend to be in need just to exploit others.
ఆడలేక అంగణం వంకర అన్నట్లు
adaleka anganam vankara annatlu
Like saying the courtyard is crooked because one cannot dance.
This expression is used to describe a person who lacks skill or fails at a task, but blames external circumstances or their environment instead of admitting their own deficiency. It is the Telugu equivalent of the English proverb: 'A bad workman quarrels with his tools.'
రేగుచెట్టు కింద ముసలమ్మ
reguchettu kinda musalamma
Like the old woman under the Rēgu tree. To knock off the fruit, boys were throwing stones into the tree, and they fell on the old woman who was too infirm to move away. An unfortunate position.
This phrase refers to someone who is talkative and gossips excessively. It originates from the image of an old woman sitting in the shade of a jujube tree (Regu chettu), where people gather, leading to endless chatting and rumor-mongering.
మానింది మందు
manindi mandu
That which heals is the medicine
This expression is used to convey that the effectiveness of a remedy or solution is what truly matters, regardless of its cost, origin, or reputation. If a treatment works and the ailment is cured, it is considered the right 'medicine'. It is often applied to situations where practical results are valued over theoretical perfection.
అరణంకంటే మరణమే మగవానికి శరణం
aranankante maraname magavaniki sharanam
Death is a better refuge for a man than living on a dowry.
This proverb emphasizes the social stigma and loss of self-respect associated with a man living off his wife's wealth or dowry (Aranam). It suggests that for a man with dignity, death is preferable to the humiliation of being dependent on his in-laws' property or a dowry-based lifestyle.