ఆకలిగొన్నవాడు ఎంగిటికి ఏవగించడు
akaligonnavadu engitiki evaginchadu
The hungry man will not refuse leavings.
When someone is in extreme need or desperate, they do not care about the quality, social status, or cleanliness of the help or resources provided. It is used to describe how basic survival needs or urgent requirements override one's usual preferences or pride.
Related Phrases
కోతికి కల్లు తాగించినట్లు
kotiki kallu taginchinatlu
Like making a monkey drink toddy (palm wine)
This expression is used to describe a situation where a naturally mischievous or restless person becomes even more uncontrollable, chaotic, or hyperactive due to external factors. It is used when someone's existing negative traits are amplified by bad influence or circumstances.
కొన్నవాడే తిన్నవాడు.
konnavade tinnavadu.
He that ate is he that bought. If you want any thing, you must pay for it. Nothing is had for nothing. (French.)
This expression emphasizes that the person who pays for something or takes the risk of purchasing it is the one who truly enjoys the benefits or consequences of it. In a broader sense, it suggests that ownership or direct investment leads to the right of consumption or usage.
పిల్లి కళ్లు మూసుకుని పాలు తాగుతూ ఎవరూ చూడడం లేదని అనుకున్నట్లు.
pilli kallu musukuni palu tagutu evaru chudadam ledani anukunnatlu.
Like a cat shutting her eyes, and fancying that no one could see her drinking the milk. A man fancying that he is unseen when committing some crime. The forest has ears, the field has eyes. (German.)
This proverb refers to people who commit wrongdoings or deceptive acts thinking they are being clever or secretive, while in reality, their actions are obvious to everyone else. It is used to mock self-deception and the foolish belief that one can hide the truth by simply ignoring it.
నోటికీ చేతికీ ఎంగిలి లేదు
notiki chetiki engili ledu
No pollution is caused by the hand being put in the mouth. Engili literally means saliva. Said by a careless Brahman.
This expression refers to someone who is extremely stingy or miserly. It describes a person who does not even eat properly (to avoid spending) nor do they ever offer a single morsel of food to others. It is used to criticize someone's lack of charity and their extreme parsimony.
ఈ ఊళ్లో పెద్దలు ఎవరంటే తాళ్లు, దాతలు ఎవరంటే చాకళ్లు.
i ullo peddalu evarante tallu, datalu evarante chakallu.
When asked who were the great ( men ) in the village, he said "The Palmyraras;" when asked who were the givers ( of presents ), he replied "The washermen." A joke. The Palmyraras are the tallest trees, and the washermen give people back their clothes. ఉ.
This proverb is used to describe a place where there are no truly respectable or generous people. Palm trees are 'tall' but provide no shade or wisdom like an elder, and washermen give back clothes that already belong to others, mimicking 'donation' without actual sacrifice. It highlights a lack of genuine leadership or charity in a community.
కొన్నవాడి కన్న తిన్నవాడే మేలు
konnavadi kanna tinnavade melu
The man that ate, was better off than the man that bought the things [ and did not use them ].
This proverb suggests that the person who actually enjoys or consumes a resource is in a better position than the one who merely spent money to acquire it but didn't get to use it. It is often used to highlight that true value lies in experience and consumption rather than just possession or investment.
ఏట్లో పడ్డవానికి ఎన్నెన్నో ఎన్నికలు.
etlo paddavaniki ennenno ennikalu.
To him who has fallen into a river how many thoughts [ do not arise ? ] Said of one in utter despair.
This proverb refers to a person in a desperate or critical situation who starts thinking of numerous solutions or regrets all at once. It is used to describe how someone's mind races with many possibilities or worries only when they are already in deep trouble, rather than planning beforehand.
నిత్యం చచ్చేవారికి ఏడ్చేవారెవరు?
nityam chachchevariki edchevarevaru?
Who are the mourners over people that die every day ? Those who always say their death is near. Said of a man continually requiring to be corrected in his work.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person constantly creates or faces the same trouble. When someone is perpetually in a state of self-inflicted misery or repetitive drama, others eventually lose sympathy and stop caring or helping. It highlights the exhaustion of empathy toward those who do not learn from their mistakes or who constantly complain about recurring issues.
మిద్దె ఉన్నవాడు బ్రతికి, గుడిసె ఉన్నవాడు చావడు
midde unnavadu bratiki, gudise unnavadu chavadu
Neither the one with a mansion survives forever, nor the one in a hut dies instantly.
This proverb emphasizes the equality of life and death, suggesting that wealth (a mansion) doesn't guarantee immortality, and poverty (a hut) doesn't mean immediate demise. It is used to remind people that fate and time are the ultimate deciders, regardless of one's social or economic status.
ఉంచుకున్నవాడు మగడు కాడు, పెంచుకున్నవాడు కొడుకు కాడు
unchukunnavadu magadu kadu, penchukunnavadu koduku kadu
The man one keeps is not a husband, the child one raises is not a son.
This proverb reflects traditional social views on legitimacy and formal bonds. It suggests that informal relationships or foster care do not equate to the legal and social status of a marriage or biological lineage. It is often used to emphasize that titles or roles earned through convenience or temporary arrangements lack the permanence and sanctity of formal, recognized institutions.