ఇంట్లో ఈగలి పోరు, బయట బాకీల పోరు

intlo igali poru, bayata bakila poru

Translation

The harassment of houseflies at home, and the harassment of creditors outside.

Meaning

This proverb describes a person who has no peace of mind anywhere. It is used when someone is facing constant nagging or petty domestic issues at home and simultaneously dealing with serious financial pressures or debts in the outside world.

Related Phrases

A fly at home - a tiger outside

This proverb describes someone who is weak or submissive in their own household but acts tough, brave, or arrogant in public. It is used to mock someone's fake bravado or inconsistent behavior.

No harassment from the mother-in-law, no harassment from the father-in-law, but the blind man's harassment in the hut.

This proverb describes a situation where one is free from major or expected problems but is constantly troubled by a small, persistent, or unexpected nuisance. It is used when someone complains about a minor but irritating issue that ruins an otherwise peaceful situation.

Like stopping a fight by giving sweets

This expression describes a situation where a conflict, tantrum, or serious issue is temporarily resolved or silenced using trivial gifts or small distractions rather than addressing the root cause. It is similar to the English concept of 'placating' someone with treats to stop them from bothering you.

The men of our house only push us around, but they never go near the fights of the neighbors.

This expression is used to describe someone who shows false bravado or dominance within their own home or over their own family members, but remains silent, cowardly, or indifferent when dealing with outside conflicts or protecting their family from external issues.

Nagging by the wife at home, and the pressure of debts outside.

This proverb describes a situation where a person is caught between two stressful environments. It is used to express being overwhelmed by constant domestic complaints or arguments on one side, and financial pressures or creditors' demands on the other.

When told the housewife is not at home, he reportedly called out 'Wife!'

This proverb is used to mock someone's foolishness or lack of common sense. It describes a situation where a person is told a fact using one word (housewife/illalu) but fails to understand it until the exact same concept is repeated using a synonym (wife/pellama). It refers to people who don't grasp the essence of a situation despite clear information.

[In] a quarrelsome neighbourhood there is no thriving, pots rubbing together will not last.

This proverb highlights that constant conflict or friction leads to destruction. Just as a clay pot wears down and breaks if it is constantly scraped, a neighborhood or relationship filled with constant bickering (poru) will eventually fall apart or become uninhabitable.

Like kicking someone outside and then holding their feet inside the house

This expression describes a person's hypocritical or cowardly behavior where they behave aggressively or disrespectfully in public, but act submissive or apologetic in private. It refers to a situation where someone harms another person and later tries to please them for selfish reasons or out of fear.

The village headman of this village is a common farmhand in the next village.

This expression highlights how status is relative and context-dependent. A person who is highly respected or powerful in their own domain might be considered insignificant or a subordinate in a different environment where they lack authority or recognition.

Conflict at home, aggression in the street

This proverb describes a person who faces constant quarrels or domestic strife at home, and as a result, projects an aggressive, loud, or overly energetic persona in public. It is used to point out that someone's outward bravado often stems from a lack of peace in their private life.