It’s raining cats and dogs!

కాశీ వెళ్తూ పిల్లిని చంకన పెట్టుకెళ్లినట్టు,పిల్లి మెడలో గంట కట్టడం, పొయ్యిలో పిల్లి లేవలేదు... ఇలా తెలుగులో పిల్లి మీద నుడికారాలు చాలానే ఉన్నాయి. ఇలాంటివి ప్రయోగిస్తుంటే సంభాషణలో చమత్కారం ఉట్టిపడుతుంది.

కాశీ వెళ్తూ పిల్లిని చంకన పెట్టుకెళ్లినట్టు,పిల్లి మెడలో గంట కట్టడం, పొయ్యిలో పిల్లి లేవలేదు… ఇలా తెలుగులో పిల్లి మీద నుడికారాలు చాలానే ఉన్నాయి. ఇలాంటివి ప్రయోగిస్తుంటే సంభాషణలో చమత్కారం ఉట్టిపడుతుంది.ఇంగ్లిష్‌లోనూ అంతే! ఓ తండ్రీకూతుళ్లు
తమ మాటల్లో ‘పిల్లి’ని సందర్భానికి అనుగుణంగా ప్రయోగిస్తూ సంభాషణకు జీవకళ ఎలా తీసుకువచ్చారో చూడండి.

Daughter: Today our teacher went to the principal’s room for ten minutes.
Father: She was not in the class for ten minutes, am I right?
Daughter: Dad, I have a cat for you.
Father: Beti, there’s not even a pet cat in our home.

Daughter: There is one!
Father: But where is it?

Daughter: In my sentence!
Father: O you mean the word ‘cat’, you smart girl.

Daughter: Today our teacher went to the principal’s room for ten minutes.
Father: She was not in the class for ten minutes, am I right?

Daughter: Yes. When she returned, she found us shouting, shrieking, laughing. &
Father: Making a lot of noise.The teacher must have been angry.

Daughter: The teacher said, ‘When the cat is away, the mice will play.’
Father: Nicely said. Did you understand?

Daughter: Yes, we did. And we laughed. We enjoyed the expression. Are there more such interesting sentences with cat?
Father: By the by, how’s the weather now?

Daughter: It’s raining.
Father: Drizzling or pouring?

Daughter: It’s raining hard, dad.
Father: It’s raining cats and dogs!

Daughter: What?
Father: That’s the expression for heavy rain.

Daughter: Fine!
Father: Once you told me about a mischievous lad in your class.

Daughter: Yes, dad. He teases others, he beats others.
Father: Why don’t you complain against him to the teacher or the principal?

Daughter:We’re afraid of the guy. Who will speak against him?
Father: Who will bell the cat?

Daughter: O dad! I’ve got the meaning. You know such nice expressions.
Father: What’s your brother doing right now? Is he in his room, reading?

Daughter: No. He’s pacing the floor. Up and down the room.
Father: I thought he was preparing for his exam tomorrow.

Daughter: He is not thorough with his lessons. He’s feeling very nervous.
Father: He can’t keep still, right?

Daughter: Yes, dad.
Father: He’s like a cat on hot bricks!

Daughter: Wonderful, dad! Any more expressions with ‘cat’?
Father: Let the cat out of the bag, curiosity killed the cat &

Daughter: Please explain.
Father: Not now, later on. Let’s see about your brother.

Bargain… No gain
Shopper: How much is this, sir?
Shopkeeper: Just 400 rupees a kilo, madam.
Shopper: Won’t you give me for 200?
Shopkeeper: Why not? & Here’s your packet.
Shopper: Thank you. If I hadn’t bargained, you wouldn’t have given.
Shopkeeper: That’s a half-kilo packet, madam. Thank you.

-సూర్యారావు ఎం.వి
వివేకానంద ఇన్‌స్టిట్యూట్‌ ఆఫ్‌ లాంగ్వేజెస్‌,
రామకృష్ణ మఠం.