అతి సుకుమారం, కటికి దరిద్రం
ati sukumaram, katiki daridram
Extreme delicacy and utter poverty
This proverb is used to describe a person who is overly fastidious, delicate, or high-maintenance despite being in a state of extreme poverty. It highlights the irony and impracticality of having expensive tastes or a fragile temperament when one lacks the basic means to survive.
Related Phrases
దరిద్రానికి దైవ చింతన
daridraniki daiva chintana
Divine contemplation for poverty.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone turns to spirituality or starts thinking about God only when they are in extreme misery or facing severe poverty. It highlights the human tendency to seek divine intervention as a last resort when all material means fail.
దంపుళ్ళ పాటకు దరిద్రం లేదు
dampulla pataku daridram ledu
There is no dearth of songs during the pounding of grain.
This expression describes a situation where there is an endless supply of something, often referring to talkativeness or irrelevant commentary. Just as people used to sing continuous, rhythmic folk songs to pass the time while manually pounding grain, it is used to describe someone who keeps talking or producing content without much effort or thought.
డౌలు చూపితే, దరిద్రం పోతుందా?
daulu chupite, daridram potunda?
Will poverty vanish just by putting on a show of style?
This expression is used to criticize someone who tries to maintain a high-status appearance or a stylish facade while lacking the actual financial means or substance to back it up. It implies that superficiality cannot solve deep-rooted problems.
గోచిపాతకు మించిన దరిద్రం లేదు
gochipataku minchina daridram ledu
There is no poverty greater than wearing a loincloth.
This expression is used to describe a state of extreme or absolute poverty where one possesses nothing but the barest minimum of clothing (a loincloth). It highlights the lowest point of financial or material destitution.
బతికితే అతిసారం, చస్తే కలరా
batikite atisaram, chaste kalara
If one survives, it is diarrhea; if one dies, it is cholera.
This expression is used to describe a 'no-win' or 'lose-lose' situation where both possible outcomes are negative or undesirable. It highlights a predicament where the choice is between a minor ailment and a fatal one, implying that there is no truly good option available.
తోటకూర వంటిది
totakura vantidi
Like amaranth greens
This expression is used to describe something or someone extremely delicate, tender, or fragile. Just as amaranth leaves wilt quickly or are easily crushed, this phrase characterizes a person's physical constitution or a sensitive situation that requires very careful handling.
ఆశకూ దరిద్రానికీ లంకె.
ashaku daridraniki lanke.
Greed and poverty are linked.
This proverb suggests that no matter how much wealth one possesses, if they have insatiable greed, they are effectively 'poor' because they are never satisfied. It is used to describe people who are never content with what they have and always crave more.
సుతారం, సూదిలోని దారం.
sutaram, sudiloni daram.
Delicacy, like a thread in a needle.
This expression is used to describe something extremely delicate, fine, or sensitive. It can refer to a person's gentle temperament, a precise piece of work, or a situation that requires very careful handling, much like the precision needed to pass a fine thread through the eye of a needle.
అధికాశ లోకదరిద్రం
adhikasha lokadaridram
Excessive greed leads to worldly poverty.
This proverb warns that being overly greedy or ambitious often leads to losing even what one already possesses, resulting in total misery or lack. It is used to advise someone to be content and avoid the pitfalls of insatiable desire.
ఆశకు అంతులేదు, గోచికి దరిద్రములేదు
ashaku antuledu, gochiki daridramuledu
Greed has no end, and a loincloth has no poverty.
This proverb contrasts the boundlessness of human desires with the simplicity of minimalism. It implies that while human greed knows no bounds, one who is content with the bare minimum (symbolized by the 'gochi' or loincloth) can never truly be poor or suffer from the lack of luxuries.