దిసమొలవాడా! కాళ్ళ కట్టువాని కప్పమన్నట్టు.

disamolavada! kalla kattuvani kappamannattu.

Translation

O naked man! Pay tax to the one wearing a loincloth.

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where an extremely poor or destitute person is being asked to pay taxes or provide resources to someone who is only slightly better off than themselves. It highlights the irony and cruelty of demanding something from those who have nothing, especially when the seeker themselves is in a humble position.

Related Phrases

Like saying "O naked man! cover him lying at your feet."

This proverb describes a situation where one seeks help from a person who is in a worse state or has even fewer resources than themselves. It highlights the irony and futility of asking for assistance from someone who is completely destitute or incapable of helping because they cannot even help themselves.

Like a naked person asking another naked person for clothes.

This proverb describes a futile situation where someone seeks help or resources from another person who is in the same or even worse state of deprivation. It highlights the irony of asking for something from someone who clearly does not possess it.

One can bundle up the wind, but one cannot shut the mouth of a shrewish person.

This proverb highlights that while it might be possible to achieve an impossible physical feat like capturing the wind, it is absolutely impossible to stop a quarrelsome or loud-mouthed person from arguing. It is used to describe situations where dealing with an irrational or aggressive person is futile.

Like a man wearing a loincloth asking a naked man for clothes.

This proverb describes a situation where someone asks for help or resources from another person who is even worse off than themselves. It highlights the absurdity of seeking assistance from someone who lacks even the most basic necessities or is in a state of absolute poverty.

Appreciating someone and then asking them to wear a goatskin.

This proverb describes a situation where someone offers praise or appreciation initially, but follows it up with a suggestion or action that is actually insulting, downgrading, or harmful. It is used when a person's supposed 'reward' or 'compliment' turns out to be a burden or a mockery of their true status.

Like one naked man asking another naked man for a cloth.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone asks for help from a person who is in the same or worse situation than themselves. It highlights the irony of seeking resources or support from those who possess nothing.

In unfavorable times, even a frog becomes a ghost.

This proverb is used to describe how when someone's luck is bad or they are going through a period of misfortune, even the smallest, most insignificant problems or people can become major obstacles and cause significant trouble.

Like asking a naked man to pay tribute to a person who has only a loincloth.

This proverb describes a situation where one poor or needy person is asked to help or pay another person who is also in a similarly desperate or slightly better state. It highlights the irony and futility of seeking resources from those who have nothing to give.

Like a naked person dressing another naked person.

This proverb describes a situation where someone who is in need or lacks something tries to help another person in the same predicament. It signifies a futile or ironic act where the helper is just as helpless as the one being helped, making the assistance ineffective.

I have hidden it, husband! Just as you asked to live separately.

This proverb describes a person who is secretly preparing for a separation or a split while pretending to be cooperative. It is used to describe someone who has ulterior motives or is making private arrangements (like hoarding resources) for an eventual departure or independent life, often under the guise of an everyday interaction.