ఇల్లు కాలి ఒకడు ఏడుస్తుంటే, ఒళ్ళు కాలి ఒకడు ఏడ్చాడట

illu kali okadu edustunte, ollu kali okadu edchadata

Translation

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

Meaning

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.

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.

One who earns is one person, the one who enjoys it is another.

This expression refers to situations where the fruits of one person's hard work, labor, or wealth are enjoyed by someone else who did not put in the effort. It is often used to describe inheritance, unfair distribution of benefits, or when someone works tirelessly for the sake of others who take it for granted.

A bear's hug. Obstinacy.

This expression refers to an uncompromising, stubborn, or relentless hold on something. Just as a bear is known for its powerful and unbreakable grip, this phrase is used to describe a person who refuses to let go of an idea, a task, or an argument once they have committed to it.

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.

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

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.

While one person does the work, another one grazes (enjoys the fruits).

This proverb describes a situation where one person puts in all the hard labor or effort, but the rewards or benefits are unfairly reaped by someone else who did nothing. It is commonly used to express frustration over exploitation or unequal distribution of results.

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.

Either that bank or this bank.

This expression is used to describe a 'do or die' situation or a definitive decision where there is no middle ground. It signifies a state of reaching a final outcome, whether it is success on the other side or staying where you are, but ending the state of uncertainty.