వీపు గుద్దరా శిష్యా అంటే, నీకంటే తక్కువ తిన్నదెవరు అన్నాడట.
vipu guddara shishya ante, nikante takkuva tinnadevaru annadata.
When told 'punch my back, disciple', he replied 'who ate less than you?'.
This proverb describes a situation where someone gives a nonsensical or irrelevant reply to a simple request, or avoids work by engaging in pointless flattery/argument. It is often used when a student or subordinate tries to be over-smart instead of doing the task assigned by their mentor.
Related Phrases
తిన్న ఇల్లు గుద్దలించావేమిరా అంటే, తినని ఇంట్లోకి రానిస్తారా అన్నాడట.
tinna illu guddalinchavemira ante, tinani intloki ranistara annadata.
When asked why he was damaging the house where he ate, he replied, 'Will they let me into the house where I haven't eaten?'
This proverb is used to describe an ungrateful person who harms those who helped or sheltered them. It highlights the absurdity of justifying betrayal or destructive behavior against one's benefactors with flawed or cynical logic.
ఉద్దర అయితే నాకిద్దరు అన్నాడట.
uddara ayite nakiddaru annadata.
If it is for free, give me two, he said.
This proverb is used to mock people who are overly greedy or take undue advantage when something is offered for free. It describes a situation where someone wants more than they need simply because they don't have to pay for it.
వీపు తోమరా అంటే ఇక్కడొక బొక్క ఉన్నదే అన్నాడట.
vipu tomara ante ikkadoka bokka unnade annadata.
When asked to scrub the back, he said, "Hey, there is a hole here!"
This proverb is used to describe someone who finds unnecessary excuses or points out obvious flaws to avoid doing the work they were asked to do. It highlights the behavior of people who focus on trivial details or 'fault-finding' to escape responsibility.
శిష్యా శిష్యా నా కాళ్ళకు చెప్పులున్నాయా అంటే, నక్షత్రమండలం ఈ మధ్య కనబడలేదు అన్నాడట.
shishya shishya na kallaku cheppulunnaya ante, nakshatramandalam i madhya kanabadaledu annadata.
When [the Guru] said "O disciple! disciple! are there shoes on my feet? [the pupil] replied "I don't see them between this and the stars." The Guru and his pupil were both gluttons, but the disciple excelled his master. On one occasion when the Guru—who had eaten so much that he could not see his toes which were numb—asked his pupil to inform him whether his shoes were on, the latter—who was filled up to his neck and was obliged to keep his face towards the sky—replied as above. To have a belly up to one's mouth. (*Spanish*)
This expression is used to describe an irrelevant or nonsensical response to a straightforward question. It highlights a lack of focus, poor communication, or someone being 'lost in the clouds' instead of addressing the immediate reality.
శిష్యా, నా చెప్పులు వెదకరా అంటే, నీ కంటే తక్కువ తిన్నదెవరు స్వామి అన్నాడట
shishya, na cheppulu vedakara ante, ni kante takkuva tinnadevaru svami annadata
When the teacher asked his student to find his sandals, the student replied, 'Teacher, who ate less than you?'
This proverb describes a situation where someone gives an irrelevant, smart-aleck, or lazy excuse to avoid doing a task. It highlights the behavior of people who try to act clever or use logic-defying arguments to escape their responsibilities when asked for help.
బడాయి బావగారూ అంటే, ఏమే గుడ్డికంటి మరదలా అన్నాడట
badayi bavagaru ante, eme guddikanti maradala annadata
When a woman said "O conceited brother-in-law," he answered "Well, one eyed sister-in-law."
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is criticized for their flaws or arrogance immediately retaliates by pointing out a bigger or equally hurtful flaw in the critic. It highlights a cycle of mutual insults or a situation where a person with faults tries to silence another person's valid observation with rudeness.
కాదు అంటే కళ తక్కువ, అవును అంటే ఆయువు ఎక్కువ
kadu ante kala takkuva, avunu ante ayuvu ekkuva
Saying 'no' reduces grace, saying 'yes' increases life span.
This expression highlights the social and personal value of being agreeable and positive. It suggests that a negative or confrontational attitude (saying 'no') makes one appear dull or ungraceful, whereas a positive, cooperative, or 'yes' attitude leads to a stress-free, longer, and more harmonious life.
నీ పెళ్ళాం ముండమోస్తే, నీకు ఎవరు అన్నం వండి పెడతారు అన్నాడట?
ni pellam mundamoste, niku evaru annam vandi pedataru annadata?
If your wife becomes a widow, who will cook for you ?
This proverb describes a person with a complete lack of common sense or intelligence. It highlights a logical fallacy where the speaker fails to realize that for a wife to become a widow, the husband (to whom he is speaking) must be dead first, making the question of his future meals irrelevant and absurd.
* Heden in fåuur, morgen in het graf, 7
వెనుక గుద్దరా శిష్యా అంటే, వెనుక గుద్దగాక మొహం ఉంటుందా స్వామి అన్నాడట
venuka guddara shishya ante, venuka guddagaka moham untunda svami annadata
When the teacher said 'hit from the back, student,' the student replied, 'If I hit from the back, will there be a face left, master?'
This expression is used to describe a person who is foolishly literal or lacks common sense. It refers to someone who interprets instructions in the most absurd way possible or provides nonsensical excuses instead of understanding the intent behind a command.
తిన్న యిల్లు గుద్దలించేవేమిరా అంటే, తినని యిల్లు నేనేమి యెరుగుదును అన్నాడట
tinna yillu guddalinchevemira ante, tinani yillu nenemi yerugudunu annadata
When asked, "Why are you digging [for treasure] in the house where you have eaten?" he replied, "What do I know of a house where I have not eaten?"
This proverb describes a person who is extremely ungrateful and lacks loyalty. It refers to someone who harms their benefactors or those who helped them, justifying their betrayal with absurd logic. It is used to criticize those who bite the hand that feeds them.
Do good to a knave and pray God he requite thee not. ( Danish. )*