చెప్పులోని రాయి, చెవిలోని జోరీగ, ఇంటిలోని పోరు

cheppuloni rayi, cheviloni joriga, intiloni poru

Translation

A stone in the shoe, a gadfly in the ear, and constant strife in the house.

Meaning

This expression lists three things that cause continuous, nagging discomfort and irritation that cannot be ignored. It is used to describe how domestic quarrels or internal family conflicts are as unbearable and persistent as the physical irritation of a stone in one's footwear or the buzzing of an insect in one's ear.

Related Phrases

For a frog in the well and an ox at the oil mill, those are their only worlds.

This proverb describes people with a narrow or limited perspective who believe their small environment is the entire world. The frog thinks the well is the whole universe, and the mill-ox, walking in circles, thinks its path is the only reality. It is used to describe lack of exposure or worldly knowledge.

A thorn in the foot and a gadfly in the ear

This expression is used to describe a situation where a person is suffering from multiple, persistent irritations or problems simultaneously. Just as a thorn makes walking painful and a gadfly's buzzing is incessantly annoying, it refers to being pestered by small but significant troubles that give a person no peace.

Like a gadfly near the ear

Used to describe someone who is constantly nagging, complaining, or talking in an annoying manner. It refers to a persistent disturbance that is hard to ignore, much like the irritating buzz of a fly close to one's ear.

One cannot know the secrets of the mind or the depth of the water

This expression highlights the inherent difficulty in truly understanding another person's hidden thoughts, intentions, or character, just as it is impossible to gauge the exact depth of water simply by looking at its surface. It is used to caution others that appearances can be deceiving and that human motives are often deep and complex.

A parrot in its nest

This expression is often used as a metaphor for the human soul residing within the body. It can also describe a person who is safe, protected, or homebound, similar to a parrot tucked away in its dwelling.

Can a person who cannot remove a stone from their food, remove a stone from the river?

This proverb is used to criticize someone who fails at simple, everyday tasks but claims or attempts to perform much larger, more difficult feats. It highlights the importance of mastering basic responsibilities before taking on monumental challenges.

Let us see when the nose hair grows long enough to reach the hair bun, and when the mute person starts calling out 'Mother'.

This expression is used to describe something that is absolutely impossible or will never happen. It is a sarcastic way of dismissing an event or a promise by linking it to two impossible conditions: a tiny nose hair growing into a long braid/bun, and a mute person suddenly gaining speech.

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.

A beetle in the ear, a thorn in the foot

This expression is used to describe a situation or a person that is persistently annoying, irritating, or causing constant discomfort. Just as a buzzing beetle in the ear is distracting and a thorn in the foot makes every step painful, this phrase characterizes something that prevents peace of mind and requires immediate attention.

Conflict at home, aggression in the street

This proverb describes a person who faces constant quarrels or domestic strife at home, and as a result, projects an aggressive, loud, or overly energetic persona in public. It is used to point out that someone's outward bravado often stems from a lack of peace in their private life.