ఇల్లు కాలి ఒకడు ఏడుస్తుంటే, ఒళ్ళు కాలి ఒకడు ఏడ్చినట్లు

illu kali okadu edustunte, ollu kali okadu edchinatlu

Translation

When one is crying because his house is on fire, another is crying because his body is burning.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a situation where two people are experiencing suffering, but their problems are of completely different scales or natures, making it impossible for them to console each other. It can also refer to a situation where someone is bothered by a trivial personal matter while another person is facing a major catastrophe, highlighting a lack of shared perspective or misplaced priorities during a crisis.

Related Phrases

One's wife is another's mother.

This proverb emphasizes respect and moral conduct towards women. It suggests that every woman should be treated with the same respect one gives to their own mother, highlighting that a woman who is a wife to someone is essentially a mother figure to others in society.

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.

While one person was crying because his house was on fire, another was crying because his body was burning.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where two people are experiencing different levels of distress, or when someone brings up a personal grievance that seems trivial or misplaced in the context of a much larger disaster. It highlights the irony of individual suffering and the lack of mutual understanding during a crisis.

If the house be burnt or the goodwife die, there will cer- tainly be lamentations.

This expression is used to describe a person who is habitually prone to complaining or creating a ruckus regardless of the circumstances. It suggests that for some people, misery or noisy behavior is a constant trait that doesn't change even in the face of significant disasters or personal loss.

While one person cried because the house was burning, another cried for the charcoal.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is focused on a trivial or selfish gain while another person is suffering a massive loss. It highlights a lack of empathy and the tendency of some people to look for petty advantages even during a major catastrophe.

Like digging a well while the house is on fire

This proverb describes the foolishness of starting preparations or seeking a solution only when a disaster has already struck. It highlights a lack of foresight and the futility of reactive measures that are too late to be effective.

When one is crying because their stomach is burning (with hunger), someone asks what maintenance or alimony they will provide.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person is suffering from a fundamental, urgent need (like hunger or survival), but others offer irrelevant, long-term, or bureaucratic solutions that don't solve the immediate crisis. It highlights the disconnect between someone's desperate reality and the useless suggestions or terms offered by others.

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.

Is there only one lord for a hunter, or only one husband for a courtesan?

This proverb is used to indicate that certain people or entities cannot be expected to remain loyal to just one master or partner. It suggests that for some, loyalty is flexible or divided among many, often used in a cynical or realistic context regarding politics or professional allegiances.

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.