గుడ్డిలో మెల్ల

guddilo mella

Translation

Squint is better than blindness

Meaning

A slightly better position. All pleasures and miseries are relative. When compared with a man with two of his legs amputated, the one with at least one leg is fortunate. It is the positive (optimistic) attitude that matters.

Related Phrases

Medical treatment from a maternal uncle for a sore on the buttocks

This expression refers to an extremely embarrassing or awkward situation where one is forced to seek help from a close relative for a private or shameful problem. It highlights the discomfort and loss of dignity involved when personal matters cannot be kept secret due to necessity.

God resides in the backside of money

This blunt and cynical expression is used to describe how wealth commands immense power and respect in society. It implies that money is so influential that it can make anything happen, and people will worship or follow it as if it were a deity, often overriding moral or spiritual values.

Neighbor is blind, the other neighbor is blind, and the lady of the house is also blind.

This expression is used to describe a situation where everyone involved lacks foresight, awareness, or common sense. It highlights a collective failure or ignorance where no one is capable of providing proper guidance or making a correct judgment.

If the mother who serves food has the intention, she can serve in any row.

This proverb highlights that if someone genuinely intends to help or give, they will find a way to do so regardless of the circumstances or their position. It is used to emphasize that the willingness of the giver is more important than the formal order or situation.

If you tell a lie, it should be like driving a nail into the bottom of the truth.

This expression is used to describe a lie that is told so convincingly and perfectly that it becomes indistinguishable from the truth, or effectively 'pins' the truth down so it cannot surface. It refers to the craftiness of a well-constructed falsehood.

Two stakes for a blind eye, two musical bands for a squint eye.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is being overly cautious or excessive in trying to compensate for a minor or major defect. It highlights how people sometimes apply unnecessary or mismatched solutions to their problems, often making the situation look more dramatic or complicated than it needs to be.

He wrote words in the air and tied a bundle in the water

This expression refers to someone who makes impossible or empty promises that have no substance or reality. It describes actions that are futile, unreliable, or purely imaginary, much like the impossibility of writing on air or securing a bundle under water.

A ruby in horse dung

This expression is used to describe a person of great value, talent, or beauty who is found in a poor, dirty, or unworthy environment. It highlights the contrast between someone's inherent worth and their external circumstances.

You may walk among snakes, but keep clear of Vaishnava priests.

This proverb is a satirical warning against religious hypocrites or fake godmen. It suggests that while the danger of a snake is predictable and can be managed, the deceptive nature and hidden agendas of those pretending to be holy are far more dangerous and difficult to navigate.

A squint eye is better than a blind eye.

This proverb is used to convey that having something imperfect or partial is better than having nothing at all. It is similar to the English expression 'Half a loaf is better than no bread' or 'Something is better than nothing.'

Of two evils choose the least.