పిరికివారికే పిడికెడంత మీసాలు
pirikivarike pidikedanta misalu
Cowards have moustaches the size of a fist.
This proverb is used to mock those who make a grand outward show of bravery or masculinity (symbolized by a thick moustache) but lack actual courage when it matters. It highlights the irony of a fearful person trying to look intimidating.
Related Phrases
ప్రీతితో పెట్టినది పిడికెడైనా చాలు
pritito pettinadi pidikedaina chalu
If given with love, a handful is sufficient.
This expression emphasizes that the quality of intention and affection behind a gift or meal is far more important than the quantity. It is used to convey that even a small gesture is deeply satisfying when offered with a sincere heart.
తిలాః పాపహరా నిత్యం, తలా పిడికెడు పిడికెడు.
tilah papahara nityam, tala pidikedu pidikedu.
Sesamum seed always takes away sin, [give them ] a hand- ful a head.
This expression is used sarcastically to describe people who use a religious or moral justification to indulge their greed or over-consume something. While the first part is a religious sentiment about the purifying nature of sesame seeds, the second part humorously demands a large quantity for everyone, highlighting human selfishness under the guise of piety.
Tila is the Sesamum Indicum. A jocose proverb, half Sanscrit, half Telugu.
కూతురికి దొరికేదంతా కుళ్ళాయి మిండగాళ్ళే
kuturiki dorikedanta kullayi mindagalle
Everything the daughter finds are only tap-using paramours.
This is a sarcastic expression used to describe someone who consistently makes poor choices or attracts only lazy, opportunistic, or useless people into their life, despite their efforts to find someone good.
కొండంత మొగుడే పోగా, పిడికెడు బొచ్చుకు ఏడ్పెందుకు?
kondanta mogude poga, pidikedu bochchuku edpenduku?
When a husband as big as a mountain is gone, why cry over a handful of hair?
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone has suffered a massive, irreparable loss but is unnecessarily worrying about a trivial or minor detail. It suggests that once the core or most important thing is lost, worrying about small peripheral matters is meaningless.
ఏటిక పిడికెడు ధనము.
etika pidikedu dhanamu.
A handful of wealth for the river.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where money is spent on something completely useless or lost in a way that provides no return. Just as throwing a handful of money into a flowing river is a waste, it refers to futile expenditures or lost investments.
కొండంత మొగుడు పోగా పిడికెడు బొచ్చుకేడ్చిందట
kondanta mogudu poga pidikedu bochchukedchindata
When a husband as big as a mountain passed away, she cried for a handful of hair.
This proverb is used to describe a person who ignores a massive loss and instead focuses on or complains about a trivial, insignificant matter. It highlights a lack of perspective or misplaced priorities during a crisis.
ఎరుక పిడికెడు ధనము.
eruka pidikedu dhanamu.
Acquaintance is a handful of money.
This proverb highlights the value of having contacts, awareness, or specific knowledge. It suggests that knowing someone or knowing 'how' things work is as valuable as having physical money in your hand, emphasizing that social networking and information are assets.
తిలాపాపం తలో పిడికెడు
tilapapam talo pidikedu
A handful of sesame seeds for each person's sin.
This expression is used when a group of people are collectively responsible for a mistake or a bad outcome. It implies that every individual involved shares a small portion of the blame or the consequences, much like everyone taking a handful of sesame seeds used in certain rituals.
తిలా పాపం తలా పిడికెడు
tila papam tala pidikedu
A sesame seed of sin for each, a handful for everyone.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a group of people collectively share the responsibility or blame for a wrongdoing. It implies that even if an individual's contribution to a bad deed is small (like a sesame seed), when everyone participates, the collective sin becomes large, and everyone must bear their portion of the consequence.
పిల్ల పిడికెడు గూని గంపెడు.
pilla pidikedu guni gampedu.
The child is a handful, but the hunchback is a basketful.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person's defects, faults, or problems are much larger than the person themselves. It is often applied to small individuals who have surprisingly large issues or when a minor task comes with a disproportionately large burden of complications.