ఇంటి వెనకాల ఇంగువ చెట్టు ఎంత కోసినా గుప్పెడు కొదువ

inti venakala inguva chettu enta kosina guppedu koduva

Translation

An asafoetida tree behind the house; no matter how much you cut, it's still a handful short.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone has a valuable resource or skill close to them, yet they act as if they are in constant need or fail to utilize it effectively. It signifies having plenty at hand but still complaining about a perceived shortage.

Related Phrases

A rag which had held assafëtida.

This expression is used to describe a person or a family that has lost their past wealth or glory but still retains the aura or reputation of it. Just as a cloth used to wrap pungent asafoetida smells of it long after the spice is gone, the person carries the prestige of their former status.

Said of a man who is respected on account of his connection with the family of some famous person, no longer living ; or on account of his own greatness, now passed away.

A handful of rice for the house, but ten 'putlus' for the housewife.

This proverb is used to describe a person who behaves very stingily when it comes to family or household needs but is extremely extravagant and spends lavishly on their own personal desires or luxuries. It highlights the hypocrisy of neglecting responsibilities while indulging oneself.

The family name is Asafoetida, the street name is Gingiva (humming sound).

This proverb is used to describe people who boast about their past glory or family legacy despite currently living in poverty or having lost all their wealth. Just as a container that once held asafoetida (hing) retains a faint smell even when empty, these people hold onto their status through words alone.

The cloth that tied asafoetida, the stove used for cooking jaggery

This proverb is used to describe a person or a situation that still retains a distinct aura, reputation, or quality of their past glory even after the source of that glory is gone. Just as a cloth smells of asafoetida long after it is removed, or a stove smells of burnt sugar long after cooking, a person's previous status or character remains evident in their behavior.

As big as the tree is, so much is the wind.

This proverb suggests that responsibilities, problems, or rewards are proportional to one's stature, status, or capacity. For example, a larger business faces bigger risks, or a person with a high income has higher expenses.

In a house where people fight, not even a handful of grains will remain.

This proverb emphasizes that constant conflict and lack of harmony within a family lead to poverty and instability. Prosperity only stays in a home where there is peace and cooperation; whereas internal strife exhausts resources and leads to ruin.

A tree on a manure heap is strong, a watered tree is pure.

This proverb contrasts the raw, unrefined strength of things that grow in waste or harsh conditions with the refined, clean beauty of things nurtured with care. It is often used to compare a person who grows up without guidance but becomes tough, versus someone who is raised with discipline and values to become virtuous.

In a quarrelsome family not a handful of grain will be left.

This proverb emphasizes that constant internal conflict, bickering, and lack of harmony lead to poverty and the loss of wealth. It suggests that prosperity cannot reside in a place where people are always at odds with each other.

As if harvesting pigeon peas with the same hand used to harvest kodo millet.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a person moves seamlessly from one task to another, or handles a new situation with the same ease or methods as a previous one. It often implies a sense of continuity in action or temperament, typically used when someone performs a second task immediately after the first without hesitation.

The cloth that wrapped asafoetida will never lose its scent.

This proverb describes how a person's past status, experiences, or reputation (good or bad) continue to influence their character or how others perceive them, even after their circumstances have changed. It is often used to refer to someone who was once wealthy or powerful and still carries those mannerisms or 'aura' even if they are currently poor.