వూళ్ళో అందరూ బోడి అంటే, నీ అమ్మ బోడి, నీ అక్క బోడి అందట.

vullo andaru bodi ante, ni amma bodi, ni akka bodi andata.

Translation

When someone said the whole village is bald, she replied 'Your mother is bald, your sister is bald'.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks common sense or the ability to understand general context. Instead of understanding that a statement refers to a collective group (including themselves), they take it as a personal insult and react defensively by insulting the speaker back.

Related Phrases

When she said "O Reddi! your buffalo has calved," he replied "O Boddi! what's that to you?" The woman wanted some milk.

This proverb is used to tell people to mind their own business or to highlight that a particular piece of news or event has no relevance or benefit to the person reacting to it. It mocks those who get unnecessarily excited or involved in matters that do not concern them.

Like decorating a bald man with a jasmine garland. Boddu Malle is the Jasminum Sambac. Something being thrown away upon a person.

This expression is used to describe an attempt to decorate or improve something that lacks the necessary foundation or suitability. It refers to something that is out of place, mismatched, or a waste of effort because the underlying situation doesn't support the addition.

[Shaving] a bald head, to [propitiate] the village goddess. No other will submit to the ignominy.

This proverb describes a situation where someone is unfairly singled out as a scapegoat to resolve a larger problem or to satisfy a ritualistic requirement. It refers to a person being sacrificed or humiliated (symbolized by shaving the head) for the supposed well-being of the community, often highlighting the absurdity of the solution or the innocence of the victim.

A joke in a quarter-and-a-seer measure?

This proverb is used to criticize someone who makes inappropriate jokes or behaves lightheartedly during a serious, critical, or difficult situation. It implies that when things are already tense or scarce, there is no room for silliness.

Even if you stab the written word, there is no death.

This proverb is used to describe an extremely stubborn, thick-skinned, or shameless person who remains unaffected by criticism, insults, or harsh words. It suggests that just as writing on a surface cannot be 'killed' by stabbing it, some people are immune to verbal rebukes or moral pressure.

If one breaks their word, a danger or misfortune will fall upon their bald head.

This expression is used to emphasize the importance of keeping one's promise. It suggests that if a person fails to stand by their word, they will face negative consequences or bad luck. It is often used as a lighthearted threat or a moral reminder to be truthful and reliable.

When the Nawab's head was bald, a widow boasted that her head was bald too.

This proverb is used to mock someone who tries to equate their own misfortune or common condition with the status or actions of a powerful person. It highlights the foolishness of seeking pride or equality in a negative or irrelevant coincidence.

When called 'flower-like maiden' (Pubodi), she replied 'Who is bald? Your mother is bald, your sister is bald'.

This proverb describes a situation where an ignorant person takes offense at a compliment or a sophisticated term because they misunderstand its meaning. 'Pubodi' is a poetic term for a beautiful woman (flower-like body), but the person in the proverb hears 'Bodi' (bald/shaven head) and reacts with insults due to their lack of vocabulary and quick temper.

Out of a billion Shiva Lingas, he asked to look for his bald one.

This expression is used when someone makes a ridiculous or impossible request for personal attention or recognition in a massive crowd or a very large collection. It highlights the absurdity of expecting something insignificant or ordinary to be singled out among millions of similar, or superior, entities.

Among a crore and a quarter Shiva Lingas, my small/bald Linga.

This expression is used to describe a situation where an individual or a small entity is lost or goes unnoticed in a massive crowd or a vast collection. It signifies insignificance or the lack of individual identity when part of a huge group.