నమిలేవానికన్నా మింగేవాడు ఘనుడు.
namilevanikanna mingevadu ghanudu.
He who swallows is better off than he who chews. He gets along at a greater pace.
This proverb describes someone who is more efficient or cunning than another. While one person is busy working through details or struggling (chewing), the other person finishes the task instantly or takes the credit effortlessly (swallowing). It is often used to describe someone who outperforms another with less apparent effort.
Said of an energetic man.
Related Phrases
రొట్టెలవానికంటే, తునకలవాడు ఘనుడు.
rottelavanikante, tunakalavadu ghanudu.
The beggar of crumbs gets more than the beggar of loaves.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where an assistant, subordinate, or middleman behaves with more authority, arrogance, or showiness than the actual owner or master. It highlights how someone who only holds a small part of the wealth or power often tries to appear more significant than the person who holds the whole.
నమిలే వాడికన్నా మింగేవాడే ఘనుడు.
namile vadikanna mingevade ghanudu.
The one who swallows is greater than the one who chews.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where one person does the hard work or preparations (chewing), but another person quickly takes away the result or benefit (swallowing). It can also refer to people who are more efficient or aggressive in consuming resources or grabbing opportunities compared to those who take their time.
గుడిని మింగేవాడు ఒకడుంటే, వాడికన్నా బలవంతుడు గుడిని, గోపురాన్ని, ధ్వజస్తంభాన్ని కూడా మింగేస్తాడు
gudini mingevadu okadunte, vadikanna balavantudu gudini, gopuranni, dhvajastambhanni kuda mingestadu
If there is one who can swallow a temple, there is another who can swallow the temple, the tower, and the flagpole too.
This proverb is used to describe how there is always someone more corrupt, powerful, or skilled than the person currently being considered. It emphasizes that no matter how 'big' a thief or a person of influence one thinks they are, there is always a 'bigger fish' who can outdo them in those same actions. It is often used in the context of corruption or greed.
అతడికంటే ఘనుడు ఆచంట మల్లన్న
atadikante ghanudu achanta mallanna
Achanta Mallanna is even greater than him.
This expression is used to describe a situation where one person meets someone who is even more clever, powerful, or capable than themselves. It is often used to caution someone who is acting arrogant or boastful that there is always someone superior to them in the world.
కొండలు మింగేవానికి గోపురాలడ్డమా, గుడి మింగేవానికి లింగమడ్డమా?
kondalu mingevaniki gopuraladdama, gudi mingevaniki lingamaddama?
For one who can swallow mountains, are towers an obstacle? For one who can swallow a temple, is the Shiva Lingam an obstacle?
This proverb is used to describe a person who has committed massive crimes or major scams, suggesting that smaller moral or physical barriers won't stop them. It implies that if someone is capable of doing something enormous or outrageous, they won't hesitate to do smaller, related tasks or commit smaller offenses. It is often used to mock the audacity of corrupt individuals or those with insatiable greed.
అతనికంటే ఘనుడు ఆచంట మల్లన్న
atanikante ghanudu achanta mallanna
Achanta Mallanna is greater than him.
This expression is used to describe a situation where one person encounters someone even more clever, skilled, or cunning than themselves. It is often used to imply that there is always someone superior or more formidable regardless of how great one thinks they are.
రాట్టల వాడికంటే తునకలవాడు ఘనుడు.
rattala vadikante tunakalavadu ghanudu.
The person with the pieces is greater than the person with the bones.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who possesses the actual substance or the best parts of something is superior to someone who only has the large, hollow, or useless parts. It emphasizes quality and substance over sheer size or volume.
మీగడ మింగేవానికి వెన్న ఎట్లా వస్తుంది
migada mingevaniki venna etla vastundi
How can one get butter if they swallow the cream?
This proverb highlights that one cannot enjoy the final, more valuable result if they consume the primary resources prematurely. It is used to describe people who lack the patience or discipline to invest effort and wait for a better outcome, choosing instead to settle for immediate gratification.
గుడి మింగేవానికి తలుపులు అప్పడాలు
gudi mingevaniki talupulu appadalu
For one who swallows the temple, the doors are like papads (wafers).
This proverb describes an extremely greedy or corrupt person. If someone is bold enough to commit a massive crime or theft (like stealing a whole temple), they won't hesitate to take small things (like the doors) as if they were minor snacks. It is used to describe people who have no moral boundaries once they have committed a major transgression.
గుడిని మింగే వాడికి నంది పిండిమిరియం
gudini minge vadiki nandi pindimiriyam
For the one who swallows the temple, the Nandi (stone bull) is like a peppercorn.
This proverb describes extreme greed or large-scale corruption. It implies that a person who is capable of stealing or committing a massive fraud (swallowing a temple) will consider a smaller part of it (the Nandi statue) to be an insignificant snack. It is used to describe people who have no moral boundaries and for whom no crime is too big or too small.