గడ్డం కాలి ఒకడు ఏడుస్తుంటే, చుట్టకు నిప్పు ఇమ్మని ఒకడు వెంబడించినట్టు
gaddam kali okadu edustunte, chuttaku nippu immani okadu vembadinchinattu
When one man was crying out that his beard was on fire another followed him asking him for a light for his cigar. If my beard is burnt, others try to light their pipes at it. (Turkish.)
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is being extremely insensitive or selfish. It highlights the contrast between one person's serious crisis and another person's trivial, self-centered request, showing a complete lack of empathy for someone else's suffering.
Related Phrases
జుట్టు కాలి ఏడుస్తుంటే, చుట్టకి నిప్పడిగినట్లు
juttu kali edustunte, chuttaki nippadiginatlu
When someone is crying because their hair is on fire, another person asks them for a light for their cigar.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is insensitive or indifferent to another person's severe distress. It highlights the contrast between one person's major crisis and another person's trivial or selfish needs.
గుర్రం చచ్చినది కాక గుంట తవ్వ ఒక రూక
gurram chachchinadi kaka gunta tavva oka ruka
In addition to the horse's death, a fanam [ must be paid ] for digging a pit [ to bury it in ]. Loss upon loss. After one loss come many. (French.)
This proverb is used to describe a situation where one suffers a primary loss and is then forced to incur further expenses or troubles because of that loss. It is similar to the expression 'adding insult to injury' or 'to pour salt on a wound.'
తనకు చెప్ప తడికెలచాటు, ఒకరికి చెప్ప ఒప్పుల కుప్ప.
tanaku cheppa tadikelachatu, okariki cheppa oppula kuppa.
When [the priest] applies [the law] to himself he screens himself [from its penalty]; but in laying down [the law] for others he is a beauty.* Justice, but not in my own house. (Spanish.)† No one likes justice brought home to his own door. (Italian.)
This proverb is used to describe a person who behaves hypocritically. It refers to someone who hides their own faults or avoids responsibility (hiding behind a screen) but gives moral lectures and acts like a paragon of virtue (pile of virtues) when judging others.
గడ్డం కాలి ఏడుస్తుంటే, చుట్టకు నిప్పిమ్మని వెంటపడ్డాడట
gaddam kali edustunte, chuttaku nippimmani ventapaddadata
While one's beard was on fire and they were crying, another person chased them for a light for their cigar.
This proverb describes a situation where a person is incredibly insensitive or selfish, seeking a trivial favor from someone who is already in the midst of a major crisis or personal tragedy. It highlights a lack of empathy and the absurdity of prioritizing small needs over someone else's dire situation.
బిడ్డ చక్కిలము వలె ఎండిపోయినాడంటే, చక్కిలాలు ఇమ్మని ఏడ్చినాడట
bidda chakkilamu vale endipoyinadante, chakkilalu immani edchinadata
When one said "the child has shrunk up like a Çakkilam" the child cried out "give me Çakkilams." Çakkilamu is "a biscuit made of twisted rings of paste without sugar" (Brown.)
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone's apparent suffering or 'pitiful' condition is actually caused by their own greed or excessive desire for the very thing they are complaining about. It mocks people who act like victims to get what they want.
గడ్డం కాలి ఒకడు ఏడుస్తుంటే, చుట్టకు నిప్పు ఇమ్మని ఒకడు వెంబడించినట్టు
gaddam kali okadu edustunte, chuttaku nippu immani okadu vembadinchinattu
While one person is crying because his beard is on fire, another is chasing him asking for a light for his cigar.
This proverb describes a situation where someone is incredibly insensitive or selfish, focusing on their own trivial needs while another person is facing a serious crisis or suffering. It is used to criticize people who lack empathy or timing.
ఇల్లు కాలి ఏడుస్తుంటే చుట్టకు నిప్పిమ్మన్నట్లు
illu kali edustunte chuttaku nippimmannatlu
Like asking for fire to light a cigar while the house is burning down and someone is crying.
This proverb describes a situation where someone is being extremely insensitive, selfish, or opportunistic during another person's tragedy. It is used when a person focuses on their own trivial needs or petty desires while ignoring a major crisis happening right in front of them.
తన వాశి తప్పితే, ఒక వన్నె తరుగును.
tana vashi tappite, oka vanne tarugunu.
If virtue fails, honor decreases with it.
This expression is used to highlight that when a person loses their dignity, character, or self-respect, their overall value and status in society automatically decline. It suggests that external respect is a direct reflection of one's internal integrity and quality.
పెద్దమ్మా నీ వెక్కడికంటే, చిన్నమ్మా నీ వెనుకే ఉంటానన్నదట
peddamma ni vekkadikante, chinnamma ni venuke untanannadata
When asked where the elder sister is going, the younger sister said she would be right behind her.
This proverb describes a situation where one problem or misfortune is immediately followed by another, or where an unwelcome person follows another. It is often used to refer to a cycle of poverty, bad luck, or persistent troubles that refuse to leave. In Hindu mythology, Peddamma (Alakshmi) represents misfortune and Chinnamma follows her, symbolizing that when one hardship arrives, more are likely to follow.
కొండకు ఒక వెంట్రుక ముడి వేస్తే, వస్తే కొండే వస్తుంది, పోతే వెంట్రుకే పోతుంది.
kondaku oka ventruka mudi veste, vaste konde vastundi, pote ventruke potundi.
If you tie a hair to a mountain, the mountain will come or the hair only go. The possibility of great gain with the risk of little loss.
This expression is used to describe a high-reward, low-risk situation. It encourages taking a chance where the potential gain is massive and the potential loss is negligible or insignificant.