చెడినా శెట్టి శెట్టే, చిరిగినా పట్టు పట్టే

chedina shetti shette, chirigina pattu patte

Translation

Even if ruined, a merchant is still a merchant; even if torn, silk is still silk.

Meaning

This proverb highlights that quality, status, or inherent value remains even during times of adversity or decline. It is used to describe a person who maintains their dignity, standards, or importance even after losing their wealth or power.

Related Phrases

Like hanging onto the eaves of the roof when someone is pulling your leg.

This proverb describes a person who is extremely stubborn or desperate to stay in a position or situation even when they are being forcefully removed. It is used to mock someone who lacks dignity and clings onto something despite being clearly unwanted or rejected.

Without a profit, a merchant wouldn't even jump into a flood.

This proverb describes a person who is extremely calculating and never does anything unless there is a personal benefit or profit involved. It is used to highlight the opportunistic or materialistic nature of individuals who prioritize gain over risk or logic.

The merchant is there for both what passes and what doesn't pass.

This proverb is used to describe someone who accepts or takes responsibility for everything, regardless of quality or validity. It often refers to a person who is willing to manage or settle matters even when they involve faulty, doubtful, or subpar items/situations, much like a merchant who handles all kinds of goods to keep business moving.

Calling himself the head merchant, he says there are only three 'giddas'.

This expression is used to describe a person who talks big or holds an authoritative position but lacks basic knowledge or competency. A 'gidda' is a small unit of measurement; a merchant not knowing standard measures is ironic. It highlights the gap between one's self-importance and their actual ability.

There are many who say 'catch it, catch it', but not a single person to actually catch it.

This expression is used to describe a situation where many people give advice, shout instructions, or encourage action from the sidelines, but no one is willing to step up and do the actual hard work or take responsibility. It highlights the gap between verbal encouragement and practical action.

When asked 'How are things, Polisetti?', he replied 'The same old lamentations'.

This proverb is used to describe a situation or a person that never changes despite the passage of time. It refers to people who are chronically pessimistic or situations where problems persist indefinitely without any improvement, much like someone who always responds with complaints regardless of when they are asked.

When he claimed to be a merchant, he sold only three measures of grain.

This expression is used to mock someone who boasts about their greatness or skills but fails to deliver even a small result. It highlights the gap between grand claims and mediocre performance.

O grandfather! Sankrânti [has arrived] catch it! catch it! Sankrânti is the transit of the sun from Sagittarius to Capricornus, when the Hindus celebrate the Pongal feast.—This is chaff ; old people observe the feast very scrupulously.

This expression is used to mock someone who is eagerly waiting for or anticipating something that is still far away, or to describe someone who is overly anxious for a future event. It implies that the person is being impatient about something that will happen in its own time.

Touch-me-not plant

Literally referring to the Mimosa pudica plant, this expression is used to describe a person who is extremely sensitive, shy, or gets easily offended or hurt by even the slightest comment or touch.

The papatam (weeding harrow) is equivalent to ten rounds of plowing.

This is an agricultural proverb highlighting the importance of weeding and inter-cultivation. It suggests that removing weeds with a 'papatam' (a specific farm tool) benefits the soil and crop growth as much as plowing the field ten times, as it loosens the soil and eliminates competition for nutrients.