అత్తవారింట సుఖం, మోచేతి దెబ్బవంటిది.

attavarinta sukham, mocheti debbavantidi.

Translation

Comfort in the mother-in-law's house is like a hit on the elbow.

Meaning

This proverb highlights the transient and fragile nature of happiness one experiences at their in-laws' house. Just as a blow to the funny bone (elbow) causes sharp, intense pain that subsides quickly, the comforts or joys found there are often perceived as temporary, superficial, or followed by sudden discomforts/realities. It is used to suggest that one should not get too comfortable or rely entirely on such hospitality.

Related Phrases

Placing jaggery in the palm and making one lick up to the elbow.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone promises or offers something attractive but makes it practically impossible to obtain or enjoy. It refers to deceptive tactics or giving someone a hard time after offering a benefit, essentially making them struggle for something that was supposed to be easy.

The pleasure felt in a mother-in-law's house is like a blow on the elbow.

This proverb highlights that the comforts or happiness one experiences at their in-laws' house are often fleeting and sharp-lived. Just as a hit to the elbow causes a sudden, intense pain that subsides quickly, the joy there is considered temporary or accompanied by unexpected stings of criticism or discomfort. It is used to caution against relying too much on the hospitality of in-laws.

Happy is the wife who is married to a motherless son.

Does butter ask for a knife blow?

This expression is used to describe a task that is extremely easy or a situation that requires no effort. Just as butter is so soft that it doesn't need force or a sharp strike to be cut, certain actions are so simple that they don't require any struggle or complex planning.

Like licking up to the elbow just because there is jaggery.

This proverb describes someone who is excessively greedy or over-indulgent. It refers to a situation where a person tries to exploit a benefit or resource beyond reasonable limits, often ending up in an awkward or unseemly position because of their lack of self-control.

There is no sorrow like losing a calf, and no happiness like the yield of milk.

This proverb is used to describe the highs and lows of a livelihood or profession. Just as a farmer feels deep grief when a calf dies (a loss of future potential) but feels immense satisfaction when the cow gives milk (immediate reward), it signifies that every gain comes with its own set of risks and emotional burdens.

The pleasure of scratching one's testicles cannot be found even in Vaikuntha (Heaven).

A crude but humorous folk saying used to describe a simple, base, or immediate physical relief that feels superior to any imaginary spiritual bliss. It is often used to remark on how people prioritize small, personal comforts over abstract or lofty goals.

The strike of a hawk that has dived and the strike of a tiger at a watering hole are unavoidable.

This proverb highlights the inevitability of certain outcomes when an expert or a predator is in their element. It is used to describe situations where a calculated attack or a predetermined consequence is impossible to escape, emphasizing that once a professional or a force of nature commits to an action, success for them (and failure for the target) is certain.

An elbow hit and a life at the husband's house.

This proverb describes experiences that are briefly painful but must be endured as part of life's inevitable circumstances. Just as an accidental hit on the elbow causes sharp, temporary pain that one quickly moves past, a woman's life in her husband's home (in traditional contexts) involves challenges and adjustments that she learns to tolerate as part of her routine existence.

Money in a woman's hand and a child in a man's hand will not stay.

This traditional proverb suggests that wealth held by a woman is quickly spent on household needs, while a man may lack the patience or nurturing skill to keep a child calm or safe for long. It is used to describe roles or situations where resources or responsibilities are perceived to be inherently unstable.

Putting jaggery in the palm and making one lick it all the way up to the elbow.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone promises or offers something attractive but makes the process so difficult, tricky, or elusive that the person never actually gets to enjoy the benefit. It refers to deceptive behavior or giving someone a 'runaround' while pretending to be helpful.