జరుగుబాటు తక్కువ, అదిరిపాటు ఎక్కువ.

jarugubatu takkuva, adiripatu ekkuva.

Translation

Low livelihood, high arrogance.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks the financial means or capability to sustain themselves properly, yet behaves with excessive pride, arrogance, or puts on a grand show of attitude. It highlights the irony of someone having a poor lifestyle but a high level of pretension.

Related Phrases

Little sense, great appetite. Eating one's senses away.

This expression is used to describe a person who lacks the common sense or skill to earn a living or work efficiently, yet has high demands or appetites. It highlights the irony of someone who cannot contribute much but expects a lot in return.

Too small for a head-cloth and too large for a loincloth.

This expression is used to describe something that is of an awkward size or quality—too little for a significant purpose but too much for a trivial one. It refers to a person or thing that is caught in the middle, being neither here nor there, and therefore practically useless or difficult to categorize.

Low intelligence, high hunger

This expression is used to mock someone who lacks common sense or intelligence but has a very large appetite or demands a lot of resources. It describes a person who doesn't contribute much intellectually but consumes a lot.

Low intelligence, high hunger.

This expression is used to describe a person who lacks common sense or productivity but has excessive demands or needs. It highlights a mismatch between one's capabilities and their consumption or expectations, often used sarcastically to mock laziness or incompetence combined with greed.

In a year where crops don't grow, the labor is even greater.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where, despite putting in an immense amount of effort, there are no results or rewards. It highlights that failing or unproductive tasks often feel more exhausting and burdensome than successful ones because the hardship is not mitigated by a positive outcome.

Less than an annual ceremony, more than a monthly ceremony.

This expression is used to describe something that is mediocre, awkward, or in an indeterminate state. It refers to something that doesn't fit into a specific category or standard—being neither significant enough to be considered important (like a 'Taddinam') nor small enough to be ignored (like a 'Masikam'). It often describes a person's height, the scale of an event, or the quality of a piece of work that is neither here nor there.

Low income, high showiness (or irritability).

This proverb is used to describe a person who has very limited financial means or resources but behaves with excessive pride, a quick temper, or an arrogant attitude. It highlights the irony of someone having little to sustain themselves while maintaining a high-handed or easily offended demeanor.

Low-priced gold has more impurities.

This proverb is used to indicate that when something is sold at an unusually low price, it is often of poor quality or has many defects. It is a cautionary saying used to remind people that 'you get what you pay for' and that cheap goods often come with hidden costs or flaws.

Less work, more struggle (fidgeting/hustle)

This proverb is used to describe a person who does very little actual work but makes a huge fuss, creates unnecessary commotion, or tries too hard to appear busy. It characterizes someone who lacks efficiency but excels in pretending to be overwhelmed or ambitious.

Even if poor in food, is one poor in caste/status?

This proverb is used to express that even if someone lacks financial resources or basic necessities like food, they still maintain their self-respect, dignity, or social standing. It highlights the idea that poverty does not equate to a loss of character or heritage.