నవాబెంత దరిద్రుడో, పులి అంత సాధువు.

navabenta daridrudo, puli anta sadhuvu.

Translation

As much as a Nawab is poor, that much a tiger is gentle.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe an impossibility or a deceptive situation. Just as it is contradictory for a Nawab (a wealthy ruler) to be poor, or for a tiger to be a gentle creature, it implies that the person or situation being discussed is fundamentally the opposite of what is being claimed.

Related Phrases

Ever-poor man - Worry-free man

This expression suggests that a person who has absolutely nothing to lose is free from the anxieties and worries that come with protecting wealth or status. It is used to describe a state where poverty, while a hardship, brings a certain level of mental peace because there is no fear of loss or theft.

The more salt you eat, the more thirst you feel.

This expression is used to describe how certain actions or desires lead to proportional consequences or further cravings. It implies that the more one indulges in a particular habit or greed, the more intense the subsequent need or consequence becomes. It is often used to warn against over-indulgence or to explain the natural outcome of a specific behavior.

A poor man has many children.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where person who is already struggling with limited resources or misfortune ends up with more burdens or responsibilities that further complicate their life. It highlights the irony of how difficulties often seem to multiply for those who can least afford them.

No matter how great they are, they are servants to women.

This expression suggests that even the most powerful, wise, or influential men can be swayed, controlled, or weakened by their desire or affection for women. It is often used to remark on how romantic attraction or beauty can overcome logic and authority.

For the wedding of an impecunious (a poor) man, a hailstorm.

This refers to the bad luck of an unfortunate person. When one is in misery, additional troubles come upon one and make one’s life more miserable.

Soft tiger, gentle animal

This expression is used to describe a person who appears mild-mannered or harmless on the outside but is actually dangerous, cunning, or highly capable like a tiger. It refers to 'wolves in sheep's clothing' or someone who hides their strength and aggression behind a polite facade.

Like a person who has been poor for three generations coming to beg.

This proverb is used to describe someone who, despite having long-standing experience in a state of lack or misfortune, still manages to be clumsy, greedy, or inefficient when an opportunity finally arises. It often refers to someone who doesn't know how to handle a situation even after being in it for a very long time, or someone whose deep-rooted habits make them over-eager in a way that is counterproductive.

As poor as a Nawâb, as mild as a tiger.

This expression is used sarcastically to describe a situation or person that is the complete opposite of what they claim to be. It highlights a paradox or a blatant lie, as a Nawab is traditionally wealthy and a tiger is inherently fierce. It is used when someone tries to portray a false image that contradicts their true nature or status.

As much wealth, so much danger.

This proverb suggests that the more wealth or possessions one acquires, the greater the associated risks, worries, or dangers. It is used to caution that prosperity often brings its own set of problems and vulnerabilities.

A poor man has many children

This proverb is used to comment on how those with the least resources often face the most additional burdens or responsibilities. Historically, it reflects the observation that poverty and large families often went together, but in a modern context, it is used more broadly to describe a situation where someone who is already struggling is further overwhelmed by more problems.