ఇల్లు ఇరుకు, పొయ్యి పొడుగు.

illu iruku, poyyi podugu.

Translation

The house is narrow, and the stove is long.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a situation where the available resources or space are insufficient for the task at hand, or when one's expenses and requirements far exceed their limited means and capacity.

Related Phrases

One's own money on Monday, others' money on Tuesday

This proverb describes a hypocritical or selfish attitude towards money and resources. It refers to a person who is very stingy and careful when spending their own money (Monday), but becomes incredibly reckless and extravagant when spending money belonging to others or the public (Tuesday). It is used to criticize those who do not value others' wealth as much as their own.

Friday for sowing, Thursday for harvesting.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb highlighting the cultural and astrological significance of specific days for farming activities. It suggests that Friday is auspicious for planting seeds, while Thursday is considered the best day to begin the harvest for prosperity and success.

Even a tiger will not start its journey on a Wednesday

This is a popular Telugu proverb used to highlight a specific cultural superstition. It suggests that Wednesday is such an auspicious or significant day for staying put or finishing tasks that even a powerful creature like a tiger wouldn't begin a new journey or venture out on this day. It is often used humorously or to justify avoiding travel on Wednesdays.

If it's not Sunday it's Monday. If to-day will not, to-morrow may.

This expression is used to describe someone who is indecisive or a situation that lacks a firm commitment. It implies that a task will be done eventually, but without a specific or reliable timeline, often suggesting procrastination or a casual attitude toward deadlines.

One's own money is Monday, others' money is Tuesday.

This proverb describes a hypocritical or selfish attitude towards money and resources. It refers to a person who is very stingy and careful when spending their own money (saving it for later), but very reckless or eager when spending money belonging to others. It is used to criticize someone who takes advantage of others' generosity while being miserly themselves.

Even a tiger doesn't start its journey on a Wednesday.

This is a popular Telugu saying rooted in traditional beliefs and astrology. It suggests that Wednesday is considered an extremely auspicious or 'fixed' day, implying that if even a powerful animal like a tiger hesitates to begin a journey or task on this day, humans should be equally cautious or follow specific travel rules. It is often used to emphasize the cultural significance of timing and omens before starting something new.

Even if God grants a boon, the priest will not grant it.

This proverb describes a situation where a higher authority is willing to help or approve a request, but the subordinates or intermediaries create obstacles. It is commonly used to express frustration with bureaucracy, middle-men, or lower-level officials who block progress despite orders from the top.

A mountain barber's haircut

This expression is used to describe a job that is done extremely poorly, inconsistently, or left half-finished. Just as a barber on a mountain might do a rough and uneven job due to lack of proper tools or skill, it refers to any work that is messy and unprofessional.

The house on Monday, the stove on Wednesday.

This proverb describes extreme laziness or procrastination. It refers to a person who starts cleaning the house on Monday but doesn't get around to lighting the stove to cook until Wednesday. It is used to mock someone who takes an unnecessarily long time to complete simple, daily tasks.

Though god gives a boon, the priest doesn’t.

In our dealings with subordinate officers in a setup, we come across hurdles in getting our rightful things done. Even if the higher-up agrees to our request, the junior officer will prove to be a stumbling block and deny justice to us.