అరువు అంటే, ఆరు ఏనుగులు కట్టివేయమన్నట్లు.

aruvu ante, aru enugulu kattiveyamannatlu.

Translation

If it is on credit, it is like asking to tie up six elephants.

Meaning

This proverb highlights how people tend to be reckless or extravagant when they don't have to pay immediately. It describes a situation where someone makes unreasonable demands or over-consumes simply because the goods or services are provided on credit (aruvu).

Related Phrases

When someone says the male buffalo has given birth, asking to tie up the calf.

This proverb describes a situation where someone blindly believes or acts upon a piece of information that is logically impossible or absurd. It is used to mock people who lack common sense or those who follow instructions without questioning their validity, even when the premise (a male buffalo giving birth) is clearly false.

Even if there is no essence in it, asking to lay a bed in the inner room.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone demands high honors, special arrangements, or grand treatment despite the underlying matter or person having no real substance, value, or quality. It highlights the irony of expecting luxury for something worthless.

When someone says the ox has given birth, asking to tie the calf to the stake.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone blindly follows or supports a baseless or illogical statement without thinking. Since oxen are male and cannot give birth, the response of 'tying the calf' shows a lack of common sense and a tendency to jump to conclusions based on hearsay.

When someone says the male buffalo has given birth, the other person asks to tie the calf to the peg.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone blindly believes or agrees with an absurdity without using any logic or common sense. It highlights the foolishness of following a false statement with an even more irrational action.

When told that elephants were being given as loans, he asked to bring two of them and tie them up.

This proverb describes a person's extreme greed and lack of foresight. It refers to someone who accepts anything offered for free or as a loan—even something as expensive and difficult to maintain as an elephant—without considering whether they can afford the upkeep or repay the debt. It is used to mock people who blindly take things just because they are available, ignoring the future consequences.

An ant's body is a burden to the ant, and an elephant's body is a burden to the elephant.

This proverb suggests that everyone has their own set of problems and responsibilities proportional to their status or size. What may seem small to others can be a significant burden to the person experiencing it. It is used to remind people that we shouldn't dismiss others' struggles just because they seem minor compared to ours, as everyone carries their own weight.

It's fine if you don't give alms, but please tie up the dog.

This proverb is used when someone, instead of helping, creates further obstacles or trouble. It describes a situation where a person seeking help is willing to forgo the assistance as long as the other person stops causing additional harm or annoyance.

If one says a neck nerve is caught in the knee, it's like asking to put a bandage on top of it.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone makes a completely illogical or physically impossible claim, and another person responds with an equally absurd or useless solution. It highlights foolishness, ignorance, or a lack of basic common sense in both the complaint and the remedy.

Borrowing during a famine

This expression describes a situation where one is forced to seek a loan or credit during a time of extreme scarcity or crisis. It signifies an act of desperation or a burden upon an already struggling person, as borrowing during a famine is difficult to repay and even harder to obtain.

The elephant's load is heavy for the elephant, the ant's load is heavy for the ant.

This proverb highlights that burden and struggle are relative to one's capacity. What might seem like a small problem to a powerful person can be an overwhelming challenge for someone less resourceful. It teaches empathy and the understanding that everyone faces difficulties proportional to their own strength or status.