మీకు మాట, నాకు మూట

miku mata, naku muta

Translation

A word to you, a bag to me. An influential person can by a word do great things for others.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a transaction or a deal where one party receives credit, fame, or verbal praise while the other party receives the material profit or payment. It highlights a situation where one person gets the glory and the other gets the money.

Related Phrases

A woman’s word, a bundle of water. A woman's mind and winter wind change oft.

This is a traditional proverb used to suggest that a promise or statement made by a woman is unstable, unreliable, or impossible to hold onto, much like trying to tie water into a bundle. It is typically used to express skepticism regarding commitments or to highlight perceived inconsistency.

If you have a mustache on your face, I have hair on my forearm, she said.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone tries to assert superiority or dominance, and the other person responds with an equally boastful or defiant retort. It signifies that one person is not inferior to the other and can match their ego or status with their own. It is often used to highlight stubbornness or a tit-for-tat attitude in an argument.

Word is harsh, heart is soft

This expression is used to describe a person who speaks bluntly or harshly on the outside but is actually kind-hearted and compassionate on the inside. It is similar to the English idiom 'His bark is worse than his bite.'

For you, the word; for us, the bundle.

This expression is used in situations involving negotiation or bribery where one party receives credit, honor, or praise (the word), while the other party receives financial gain or material wealth (the bundle/money). It implies a mutually beneficial deal where social status and material profit are divided between the parties.

Seven for the sister-in-law, and only three for me?

This expression is used to describe a situation of unfair distribution or partiality. It is typically used when someone feels they are receiving significantly less than another person despite being in a similar position or having similar needs. It highlights a sense of grievance regarding inequality.

There is no substitute or remedy for a word that has crossed its limits.

This proverb emphasizes the permanence and impact of spoken words. Once someone says something hurtful or excessive (crossing the boundary of decency or patience), the damage is irreversible. It is used to advise people to think before they speak and to maintain self-control in conversation.

If it thunders before the rain or if one cries before speaking, it will not last/finish.

This proverb is used to describe situations that lack substance or perseverance. It suggests that a rainstorm preceded by excessive thunder often dissipates without much rain, just as a person who starts a conversation with tears often fails to convey their point effectively or complete their argument. It highlights that excessive show or premature emotion often leads to an unproductive end.

A person gets no answer when he transgresses the bounds of politeness. A rude speech gets no reply.

This proverb warns that once a person speaks words that exceed the boundaries of decency, respect, or truth, the damage is irreversible. Just as an arrow shot from a bow cannot be taken back, offensive or excessive words cannot be undone or rectified easily. It emphasizes the importance of thinking before speaking and maintaining self-restraint in communication.

* Non puci mal fare a nave rotta.

Words that are barely formed are like a bundle of gold coins.

This expression is used to describe the broken or half-formed speech of young children. Just as a bundle of gold (varahalu) is precious, the innocent and stuttering attempts of a child trying to talk are considered delightful, sweet, and invaluable to hear.

A courtesan's word is like a bundle found in a dream.

This proverb implies that promises or words spoken by someone who is primarily driven by self-interest or monetary gain (historically referring to courtesans) are unreliable and illusory. Just as a bundle of wealth found in a dream disappears upon waking, such promises have no value in reality.