బుక్కెడు తిన్నమ్మ బూరుగు మ్రాను, చేరెడు తిన్నమ్మ చెక్కపేడు
bukkedu tinnamma burugu mranu, cheredu tinnamma chekkapedu
She who ate a mouthful is like a silk cotton tree trunk; she who ate a handful is like a thin sliver of wood.
This proverb is a sarcastic comment on how people's physical appearance often contradicts their claims about their food intake. It describes a situation where someone who claims to eat very little (a mouthful) is actually quite heavy or large, while someone who claims to eat more (a handful) remains very thin. It is used to mock hypocrisy or hidden habits regarding consumption.
Related Phrases
చద్దికూడు తిన్నమ్మకు మొగుడి ఆకలి తెలియదు
chaddikudu tinnammaku mogudi akali teliyadu
A woman who has already eaten cold leftovers cannot understand her husband's hunger.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is already comfortable, satisfied, or has their needs met fails to empathize with the struggles or urgency of others. It highlights a lack of empathy or perspective when one is in a privileged or secure position compared to those around them.
ఆవాలు తిన్నమ్మకు యావ, ఉలవలు తిన్నమ్మకు ఉలుకు
avalu tinnammaku yava, ulavalu tinnammaku uluku
A woman who eats mustard seeds has desire; a woman who eats horse gram has a startle.
This proverb describes how different habits, foods, or actions produce specific physiological or psychological reactions. It is often used metaphorically to suggest that a person's behavior or guilt is a direct result of their secret actions—specifically, if someone has done something wrong (eaten horse gram which causes gas/discomfort), they will be jumpy or 'startled' when the topic comes up.
ఒకపూట తిన్నమ్మ ఓర్చుకుని ఉంటే, ముప్పూట తిన్నమ్మ మూర్చబోయిందట.
okaputa tinnamma orchukuni unte, mupputa tinnamma murchaboyindata.
While the woman who ate once a day endured with patience, the woman who ate three times a day fainted.
This proverb highlights the difference in resilience and endurance. It suggests that those accustomed to hardships or simplicity often handle difficulties better than those who are pampered or live in luxury. It is used to mock someone who complains despite having plenty, or to praise the grit of the underprivileged.
అన్నం తిన్నవాడు, తన్నులు తిన్నవాడు మర్చిపోడు
annam tinnavadu, tannulu tinnavadu marchipodu
The one who ate food and the one who received kicks will never forget.
This proverb highlights that some experiences leave an indelible mark on a person's memory. It specifically refers to acts of extreme kindness (giving food to the hungry) and acts of extreme humiliation or physical pain (getting beaten). Both the person who was helped in their time of need and the person who was wronged/punished will remember those moments forever.
మిండలను మరిగినమ్మ, మీగడ తిన్నమ్మ ఊరకుండరు.
mindalanu mariginamma, migada tinnamma urakundaru.
A woman used to lovers and a woman used to eating cream cannot remain quiet.
This proverb is used to describe how once a person develops a taste for luxuries or a habit of indulging in forbidden/secret pleasures, they find it impossible to give them up. It highlights the persistent nature of deep-seated habits or addictions.
చేసినమ్మ చేప చేయనమ్మ చెదలు
chesinamma chepa cheyanamma chedalu
The woman who worked got fish, the woman who didn't got termites.
This proverb emphasizes that hard work leads to fruitful results, while laziness or procrastination leads to waste and decay. It is used to motivate someone to put in effort to reap rewards rather than letting opportunities rot away.
ఉలవలు తిన్నమ్మకు ఉలుకు, సజ్జలు తిన్నమ్మకు సలుకు.
ulavalu tinnammaku uluku, sajjalu tinnammaku saluku.
The one who ate horse gram startles; the one who ate pearls (millet) remains steady.
This proverb refers to how guilt or hidden secrets affect a person's behavior. Eating horse gram (ulavalu) causes flatulence, making the person jumpy or 'startle' (uluku) in discomfort. In contrast, millet is easier to digest. It is used to describe a situation where a guilty person behaves restlessly or gives themselves away through their nervous reactions, while an innocent person remains calm.
ముప్పొద్దు తిన్నమ్మ మొగుడి ఆకలి ఎరుగదు
muppoddu tinnamma mogudi akali erugadu
A woman who eats three meals a day does not understand her husband's hunger.
This proverb describes a situation where a person who is comfortable or has their needs fulfilled fails to empathize with the struggles or suffering of others. It is used to criticize lack of empathy or selfishness in those who are privileged.
చద్దికూడు తిన్నమ్మ మొగుడి ఆకలి ఎరుగదు
chaddikudu tinnamma mogudi akali erugadu
The wife who has eaten breakfast [ at home ] does not think of her husband's hunger. Little knows the fat sow what the lean one means. The full belly does not believe in hunger. (Italian.)
This proverb describes a situation where a person who is comfortable or has already satisfied their own needs cannot empathize with the suffering or needs of others. It is used to criticize someone's lack of empathy due to their own self-satisfaction.
చద్దికూడు తిన్నమ్మ మొగుడి ఆకలి ఎరుగదు
chaddikudu tinnamma mogudi akali erugadu
The woman who has eaten the previous night's leftovers does not understand her husband's hunger.
This proverb describes a situation where a person who is comfortable or has their needs met fails to empathize with the struggles or needs of others. It is used to highlight selfishness or a lack of perspective when one's own belly is full.