చేయని రెక్కలు చెదలు పడతాయి, చేసిన రెక్కలు సెగలు వారుతాయి

cheyani rekkalu chedalu padatayi, chesina rekkalu segalu varutayi

Translation

Unused wings (arms) get infested with termites, while used wings (arms) emit heat.

Meaning

This proverb emphasizes the value of hard work and the consequences of laziness. It means that an idle body or mind will decay and waste away (like wood eaten by termites), whereas a person who works hard stays active, strong, and radiates energy or productivity (symbolized by heat).

Related Phrases

Like chickens having wings and palm trees having udders.

This expression is used to describe something that is completely obvious or redundant. Just as it is common knowledge that chickens have wings and palm trees (or ropes/cables in some dialects) lack anatomical parts like udders, it refers to stating the obvious or describing a situation where everything is exactly as expected, often used in a sarcastic tone regarding redundant observations.

By the time the sisters wake up, the jackals start howling.

This proverb is used to describe people who are extremely lazy or chronic late-risers. It implies that instead of waking up at dawn, they sleep so late that it is already evening (when jackals typically howl) by the time they get out of bed.

A bird with broken wings

This expression is used to describe a person who has lost their support system, power, or means of independence. It conveys a state of utter helplessness or being stranded after a significant setback.

If dogs spin cotton yarn, horses will wear sarees.

This proverb is used to describe an impossible or highly improbable situation. It implies that if something inherently absurd or unnatural were to happen, the consequences would be equally ridiculous. It is often used to mock someone's unrealistic claims or to express deep skepticism about a task being completed by someone unqualified.

Like the wings of fowls, and the flower-stalks of palmyra trees.

This expression is used to describe things that are completely natural, obvious, or inherent to a situation. It points out that certain characteristics are just the way things are, often used to dismiss a silly question or to highlight a self-evident truth.

Domestic fowls make no use of their wings, and the flower-stalk ( spadix ) of the palmyra bears no fruit. Useless possessions.

If the chariots move, the sticky residue will release.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a major obstacle or a central problem needs to be resolved first for smaller, nagging issues to disappear. Just as the sticky juice (jeeda) from marking nuts or trees is cleared away when a heavy chariot (teru) starts moving through the path, larger actions often clear away minor complications automatically.

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.

The eccentricities (or confusion) of the one who looks into accounts will revolve.

This expression means that when a person gets deeply involved in accounting, financial details, or complex calculations, they often become mentally exhausted, confused, or even a bit eccentric. It is used to describe the mental strain and frustration that comes with managing intricate finances or dealing with stressful bookkeeping.

Like a bird with broken wings. Utterly helpless.

This expression is used to describe a person who has become helpless, powerless, or has lost their support system. Just as a bird cannot fly or survive easily without its wings, it refers to someone who is unable to function or move forward in life due to a significant loss or failure.

* Chi non ha, non è.

When the pond dries up, the fish are revealed.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where secrets or hidden truths come to light when a protective cover or a source of support disappears. It can also imply that when a person's resources or power vanish, their true nature or past actions become visible to everyone.