వంకర టింకర కాయలు ఏమిటివి అంటే, చిన్ననాడు అమ్మిన చింతకాయలు అన్నాడట
vankara tinkara kayalu emitivi ante, chinnanadu ammina chintakayalu annadata
When she asked "What are those crooked pods?" they re- plied "The unripe tamarinds you sold in your youth." The story goes that the daughter of very poor parents who in her youth had to go about selling the unripe tamarinds she was able to gather from under the trees, afterwards became the wife of a rich man. Passing through the streets one day in her grand palankin, she superciliously enquired what a tamarind girl was selling, when her bearers replied as above, "These are the tamarinds Madam, which you sold in your youth." To take one a peg lower. You used to be a baker though now you wear gloves. (Spanish.)
This proverb is used to describe someone who tries to justify their current mistakes or poor behavior by linking them to past habits or experiences. It also mocks people who give obvious or silly explanations for things that are common knowledge, pretending as if they have discovered something unique.
Related Phrases
పూలు అమ్మిన చోట పుడకలు అమ్మినట్టు
pulu ammina chota pudakalu amminattu
Like selling firewood where flowers were sold.
This proverb describes a person who has fallen from a high, prosperous, or prestigious status to a lowly or poor condition. It signifies the misfortune of having to do menial work in the same environment where one previously enjoyed success and respect.
బొంకరా బొంకరా పోలిగా అంటే, టంగుటూరి మిరియాలు తాటికాయలంతేసి అన్నాడట
bonkara bonkara poliga ante, tanguturi miriyalu tatikayalantesi annadata
"Go on with your lies Pôliga," said one, "The Ṭanguṭûru pepper is as big as Palmyra fruit," he replied.
This proverb is used to describe a person who, when given the freedom to lie or exaggerate, does so in such an absurd and unbelievable manner that it loses all credibility. It is used to mock people who make outrageous claims or tell tall tales without any sense of proportion.
He may lie boldly who comes from afar. ( French. ) * A beau mantir qui vient de lois.
పుచ్చిన వంకాయలు బాపనయ్యలకు
puchchina vankayalu bapanayyalaku
The rotten brinjals to the Brahmans.
This proverb is used to describe a stingy or hypocritical attitude where people donate or give away only useless, damaged, or spoiled items to others (traditionally referring to priests in this context) while keeping the good ones for themselves. It highlights the tendency to offer charity only when the item is of no value to the giver.
చింతకాయలు బేరంచేస్తూ, వంకరటింకర కాయలేమి అన్నట్లు
chintakayalu beranchestu, vankaratinkara kayalemi annatlu
While bargaining for tamarinds, asking why they are crooked.
This proverb is used to describe someone who finds fault in the natural or inherent characteristics of an object or situation just to get a lower price or to criticize for the sake of it. Since tamarinds are naturally crooked, complaining about their shape while trying to buy them is illogical and hypocritical.
గంధము అమ్మిన చోట కట్టెలు అమ్మినట్టు.
gandhamu ammina chota kattelu amminattu.
Like selling firewood where sandal had been sold. Said of the ruin of what once was beautiful.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone or something has lost its former glory, dignity, or high status. It refers to a decline in quality or a person resorting to menial tasks after having held a prestigious position.
చింతకాయలు ఎరుగని దొరసాని, చింతకాయలను చూచి కొడవళ్ళా అన్నదట
chintakayalu erugani dorasani, chintakayalanu chuchi kodavalla annadata
The lady who had never seen tamarinds asked if they were sickles upon seeing them.
This proverb describes someone who is completely ignorant of common, everyday things but tries to act sophisticated or superior. It is used to mock people who lack practical knowledge or those who make ridiculous assumptions about simple matters due to their lack of exposure.
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.
చింతకాయలు అమ్మేదానికి సిరిమానం వస్తే, ఆ వంకరటింకరవి ఏమి కాయలు అన్నదట
chintakayalu ammedaniki sirimanam vaste, a vankaratinkaravi emi kayalu annadata
When a woman who sells tamarind gets prosperity, she asks what those crooked fruits are.
This proverb is used to describe a person who, upon achieving sudden wealth or a higher status, pretends to be unfamiliar with their humble origins or the very things that once formed their livelihood. It highlights hypocrisy, false pride, and the tendency to look down upon one's past.
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.
బొంకరా బొంకరా పోలుగా అంటే, ఎద్దు అడుగులో ఏడు కొరమీనులు అన్నాడట.
bonkara bonkara poluga ante, eddu adugulo edu koraminulu annadata.
When told to lie, Poluga said there were seven snakehead fish in a bull's hoofprint.
This proverb is used to describe someone who, when given an inch, takes a mile—specifically in the context of exaggeration or lying. It refers to a person who loses all sense of proportion or realism when encouraged to fabricate a story, making claims that are physically impossible or absurdly exaggerated.