ఇల్లు కాలి ఇల్లాలు ఏడుస్తుంటే రంకు మొగుడొచ్చి రాళ్ళేశాడట

illu kali illalu edustunte ranku mogudochchi ralleshadata

Translation

While the housewife was crying because her house was on fire, her paramour came and pelted stones.

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where someone is already in deep distress or a catastrophic crisis, and instead of receiving help, someone else adds to their misery or takes advantage of the situation in a cruel or insensitive way. It is used to highlight the extreme insensitivity of others during a person's worst moments.

Related Phrases

While she was mourning her husband's death, her lover came and threw stones at her.

This proverb describes a situation where a person is already dealing with a major tragedy or crisis, only to be further harassed or troubled by an insignificant or unwelcome person. It is used to highlight the height of misfortune or the insensitivity of others during a person's most vulnerable moments.

A shed is not a house, and a traveler is not a husband.

This proverb highlights the importance of stability and permanence. Just as a temporary thatched shed (pandiri) cannot provide the security of a permanent home, a person who is just passing through (paradesi) cannot fulfill the long-term responsibilities or provide the stability expected of a spouse. It is used to caution against relying on temporary arrangements or people who lack commitment.

A housewife's cleanliness is known the moment you see the house.

This proverb implies that the character, discipline, and efficiency of a person can be judged by the state of their immediate environment or the work they manage. Just as a clean house reflects a diligent homemaker, a person's surroundings are a mirror of their internal standards.

She said she was crying for 'Nandu'.

This phrase is used to describe a situation where someone is pretending to be sad or upset for a noble reason, while their true motive is hidden or entirely different. It highlights hypocrisy or deceptive behavior.

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 she was mourning her dead husband, her paramour came and threw stones at her.

This proverb describes a situation where a person already suffering from a major tragedy or problem is further harassed or troubled by an insensitive or opportunistic person. It is used to highlight the cruelty of adding more misery to someone who is already in a state of grief or distress.

A home's appearance reveals the housewife's beauty.

This proverb suggests that the cleanliness, organization, and upkeep of a home are a direct reflection of the character, competence, and management skills of the person in charge of it. It is used to emphasize that true beauty or worth is seen in how one maintains their responsibilities and environment.

When the housewife was crying because her house caught fire, a charcoal merchant came to bargain for the charcoal.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person tries to exploit someone else's tragedy for their own selfish gain. It highlights extreme opportunism and a lack of empathy, focusing on profit while another person is suffering a devastating loss.

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.

When [someone] is crying because their stomach is burning [from hunger], she asked 'What maintenance/allowance will you give?'.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person is suffering from a fundamental or immediate crisis, but someone else offers an irrelevant, future, or secondary solution instead of addressing the urgent need. It highlights the disconnect between a person's basic needs and the superficial help being offered.