దరిద్రానికి మాటలెక్కువ, తద్దినానికి కూరలెక్కువ
daridraniki matalekkuva, taddinaniki kuralekkuva
Poverty has too many words, a funeral ceremony has too many curries.
This proverb is used to criticize people who talk excessively to cover up their lack of substance or resources. Just as a feast of many curries at a funeral ceremony is seen as wasteful or inappropriate, unnecessary talk from a person who cannot provide results is viewed as a sign of incompetence or pretense.
Related Phrases
శనేశ్వరుడికి నిద్ర ఎక్కువ, దరిద్రుడికి ఆకలెక్కువ
shaneshvarudiki nidra ekkuva, daridrudiki akalekkuva
Shani (Lord of misfortune) sleeps too much, while the poor man is always hungry.
This expression highlights ironical or unfortunate traits that exacerbate a person's problems. It suggests that just as laziness (excessive sleep) is attributed to Shani, hunger is the constant companion of the poor. It is used to describe situations where people have excessive needs or habits that prevent them from overcoming their difficulties.
తెలివి తక్కువ, ఆకలెక్కువ.
telivi takkuva, akalekkuva.
Low intelligence, high hunger.
This expression is used to describe a person who lacks common sense or productivity but has excessive demands or needs. It highlights a mismatch between one's capabilities and their consumption or expectations, often used sarcastically to mock laziness or incompetence combined with greed.
దరిద్రానికి మాటలెక్కువ, తద్దినానికి కూరలెక్కువ.
daridraniki matalekkuva, taddinaniki kuralekkuva.
Poverty has many words; a funeral rite has many curries.
This proverb highlights irony and hypocrisy. It refers to people who lack resources or capability but overcompensate with empty talk or excuses. Similarly, it mocks how some people prepare an excessive variety of dishes for a funeral feast (Thaddinam) despite the occasion being one of mourning or limited means. It is used to describe someone who talks big but has nothing of substance to show.
దరిద్రానికి ఆకలెక్కువ
daridraniki akalekkuva
Poverty is accompanied by extreme hunger
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone lacks resources but has excessive needs or demands. It highlights the irony of having the least capacity to fulfill requirements while having the greatest desires or appetites. It is often used to comment on how problems seem to multiply for those already in a miserable state.
శనేశ్వరానికి నిద్ర ఎక్కువ, దరిద్రానికి ఆకలెక్కువ
shaneshvaraniki nidra ekkuva, daridraniki akalekkuva
Saturn (bad luck) sleeps too much, while poverty is always hungry.
This proverb describes the characteristics of misfortune and poverty. It suggests that bad luck or an ill-fated person is often lazy or slow to act (represented by sleep), whereas poverty is a relentless, consuming force that is never satisfied (represented by hunger). It is used to describe a state of chronic misery where one is stuck in a cycle of lethargy and desperation.
గట్టుమీద వానికి గప్పాలెక్కువ
gattumida vaniki gappalekkuva
The person on the bank talks big.
This expression is used to describe a person who stands safely on the sidelines or on the shore and gives excessive advice or boastful suggestions to someone who is actually struggling in a difficult situation (like someone struggling in the water). It highlights how easy it is to criticize or provide solutions when one is not personally facing the risk or hard work.
దరిద్రుడికి పిల్లలెక్కువ.
daridrudiki pillalekkuva.
A poor man has many children.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where person who is already struggling with limited resources or misfortune ends up with more burdens or responsibilities that further complicate their life. It highlights the irony of how difficulties often seem to multiply for those who can least afford them.
మాసికానికి ఎక్కువ, తద్దినానికి తక్కువ
masikaniki ekkuva, taddinaniki takkuva
More than a monthly memorial, less than an annual death anniversary ritual.
This expression is used to describe something or someone that is mediocre, caught in the middle, or not quite fitting into any specific category. It refers to a situation that is more than a small event but not significant enough to be a major one, often implying that it is neither here nor there.
తద్దినానికి తక్కువ, మాసికానికి ఎక్కువ
taddinaniki takkuva, masikaniki ekkuva
Less than an annual ceremony, more than a monthly ceremony.
This expression is used to describe something that is mediocre, awkward, or in an indeterminate state. It refers to something that doesn't fit into a specific category or standard—being neither significant enough to be considered important (like a 'Taddinam') nor small enough to be ignored (like a 'Masikam'). It often describes a person's height, the scale of an event, or the quality of a piece of work that is neither here nor there.
పలుచని గొడ్డుకు పాలెక్కువ, పిండని ఆవుకు పొదుగెక్కువ
paluchani godduku palekkuva, pindani avuku podugekkuva
The thin cow gives more milk, and the unmilked cow has a larger udder.
This proverb is used to describe people who boast or show off without having any real substance or capability. Just as a cow that isn't milked looks like it has a large udder but yields nothing, or a weak cow is claimed to produce much milk, some people use appearances or tall tales to hide their lack of actual merit or performance.