ఆవులన్నీ యిచ్చి ఒక్క బక్కావు యివ్వకపోతే పాడికి కొరవా.
avulanni yichchi okka bakkavu yivvakapote padiki korava.
If you give away all the cows but hold back one weak cow, will there be a shortage of milk?
This proverb is used to point out the pettiness or hypocrisy of someone who claims to make a huge sacrifice or contribution but becomes stubborn or stingy over a trivial, insignificant detail at the very end. It suggests that once the major part of a task or gift is completed, holding back a small, low-value portion does not truly serve any purpose.
Related Phrases
ఇచ్చినవాడు దాత, ఇవ్వనివాడు పాత
ichchinavadu data, ivvanivadu pata
He who gives is a donor, he who does not give is a clout.
This expression highlights that generosity earns a person respect and a lasting legacy. A person who helps others is remembered as a benefactor, whereas someone who is stingy or refuses to help is quickly forgotten or disregarded by society. It is used to encourage charity and reflect on the social value of giving.
The impertinent speech of a beggar.
పులి బక్కచిక్కితే, చారలు బక్కపడునా?
puli bakkachikkite, charalu bakkapaduna?
If a tiger becomes thin, will its stripes become thin too?
This expression means that even if a person of great stature or character falls on hard times or loses their wealth, their inherent dignity, skills, and fundamental nature remain unchanged. It is used to describe someone whose core identity and respect remain intact despite a change in their external circumstances.
డబ్బు ఇవ్వను, డబ్బు మీది దుమ్ము ఇవ్వను
dabbu ivvanu, dabbu midi dummu ivvanu
I won't give a Dabb, I won't give the dust on a Dabb. ( 35 ).
This expression is used to describe an extremely stingy or miserly person who refuses to give away even the slightest bit of their wealth, often to an irrational degree. It highlights a character that is uncompromising and excessively greedy.
పసుపు కొమ్ము ఇవ్వని కోమటి పసారమంతా కొల్ల ఇచ్చాడు
pasupu kommu ivvani komati pasaramanta kolla ichchadu
As impossible as that a Kômaṭi who would not give away a bit of turmeric should allow his whole store to be plundered.
This proverb describes a person who is extremely stingy over small things but ends up suffering a massive loss due to that very greed or lack of foresight. It is used to critique someone who tries to save pennies while losing pounds, or whose stubbornness over a trivial matter leads to a total catastrophe.
బక్కవానికి బలిసినవాడు బావ, బలిసినవాడికి బక్కవాడు బావ
bakkavaniki balisinavadu bava, balisinavadiki bakkavadu bava
To a lean man, a wealthy man is a brother-in-law; to a wealthy man, a lean man is also a brother-in-law.
This proverb highlights the reciprocity and equality inherent in kinship and relationships, regardless of economic status. In Telugu culture, 'Bava' (brother-in-law) denotes a close relative. The saying suggests that blood relations or social bonds remain the same regardless of one person being rich (balisinavadu) and the other being poor (bakkavadu). It is used to emphasize that status shouldn't change how family members treat or address one another.
దొరలు ఇచ్చిన పాలుకన్నా ధరణి ఇచ్చిన పాలు మేలు.
doralu ichchina palukanna dharani ichchina palu melu.
The share given by the earth is better than that given by the government. Free lands are better when fertile, than shares of grain allotted by government.
This proverb emphasizes self-reliance and the bounty of nature over patronage from the powerful. It suggests that what one earns through honest labor on their own land is superior and more sustainable than gifts or favors received from those in power, which often come with conditions or strings attached.
ఇస్తే పెళ్లి, ఇవ్వకపోతే పెటాకులు
iste pelli, ivvakapote petakulu
If given, a wedding; if not, crackers.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is extremely demanding or fickle. It implies that if things go their way, they will celebrate (a wedding), but if they don't get what they want, they will create chaos or break relationships (crackers/explosions). It describes an 'all or nothing' or 'my way or the highway' attitude.
గ్రామ మిచ్చినదాత ఇల్లు కట్టించి యివ్వలేడా?
grama michchinadata illu kattinchi yivvaleda?
Will the donor who gave a whole village not be able to build a house?
This expression is used to highlight that someone who has provided a massive favor or a large gift will certainly not hesitate to help with a much smaller requirement. It implies that if a person is capable and willing to do something great, they can easily handle minor details or smaller requests associated with it.
ఎవరు ఇచ్చినది ఈ మాన్యము అంటే, నేనే ఇచ్చుకున్నాను అన్నాడట.
evaru ichchinadi i manyamu ante, nene ichchukunnanu annadata.
When asked " Who gave you the freehold?" he said " I gave it to myself." Said of one who helps himself without regard to the law of meum and tuum.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks legitimate authority or external validation and instead relies on self-proclamations or self-awarded honors. It mocks those who boast about achievements or titles they have unilaterally claimed without any basis in truth or merit.
ఇస్తే పెళ్ళి, ఇవ్వకపోతే పెటాకులు
iste pelli, ivvakapote petakulu
If you give, [I shall consider there is ] a marriage [in your house] and if you don't give, a funeral.
This expression describes a situation where things go smoothly as long as a person's demands or conditions are met, but the moment they are denied, they cause chaos or break the relationship. It is used to characterize fickle or demanding people who create trouble when they don't get their way.
The impertinent speech of a beggar. ఈ.