పొరుగింటి అట్లకు నెయ్యి కాచినట్లు
poruginti atlaku neyyi kachinatlu
Like melting ghee for the neighbor's pancakes.
This expression describes a situation where someone works hard or spends resources on something that only benefits others and provides no benefit to themselves. It is used to highlight wasted effort or misplaced generosity where the doer gains nothing.
Related Phrases
వాచినమ్మకు పాచినకూడు పెడితే, మా అత్త పరమాన్నం పెట్టిందని ఇరుగింట పొరుగింట చెప్పిందట.
vachinammaku pachinakudu pedite, ma atta paramannam pettindani iruginta poruginta cheppindata.
When a starving woman was given stale food, she told the neighbors that her mother-in-law served her a royal feast.
This proverb describes a person who is so deprived or desperate that even the smallest, most insignificant favor feels like a grand gesture. It is used to highlight situations where someone's extreme need makes them overly grateful for something of very low value, or when someone tries to cover up their poor circumstances by glorifying a meager offering.
పొరుగింటి నెయ్యి, పెండ్లాము చెయ్యి
poruginti neyyi, pendlamu cheyyi
Neighbor's ghee, wife's hand.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is overly generous or extravagant because the resources being used do not belong to them. It implies that people tend to spend or give away others' wealth much more freely than they would their own.
పొరుగింటి బిడ్డను దించి, నీటి లోతు చూచినట్లు
poruginti biddanu dinchi, niti lotu chuchinatlu
Like dropping the neighbor's child into the water to check its depth.
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely selfish or cautious to a fault, risking others' well-being to test a dangerous situation before committing themselves. It highlights a lack of empathy and the tendency to use others as scapegoats or guinea pigs.
ఓపలేని వాడు నెయ్యి నాకినట్లు
opaleni vadu neyyi nakinatlu
Like a weak person licking ghee.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who is lazy, incapable, or lacks strength attempts to do something in a very inefficient or half-hearted manner, or tries to enjoy benefits without putting in the necessary hard work. It highlights the irony of a person who claims they cannot work but has the energy to consume rich or luxurious things.
పొరుగింట చూడరా నా పెద్దచెయ్యి
poruginta chudara na peddacheyyi
Look at my 'big hand' (generosity) in the neighbor's house.
This proverb is used to describe a hypocrite who pretends to be generous or charitable using other people's resources or properties. It refers to someone who shows off their status or kindness at the expense of others while contributing nothing themselves.
పొరుగింటి కలహం విన వేడుక
poruginti kalaham vina veduka
A quarrel in the neighbor's house is a joy to hear.
This proverb highlights a common human tendency to find entertainment or amusement in the conflicts and troubles of others, particularly neighbors, while ignoring one's own issues. It describes the voyeuristic pleasure people sometimes take in gossip and local drama.
నిప్పులో నెయ్యి పోసినట్లు
nippulo neyyi posinatlu
Like pouring ghee into the fire
This expression is used to describe an action that worsens an already volatile or tense situation. Just as ghee makes a fire blaze more intensely, this phrase refers to 'adding fuel to the fire'—making someone angrier or making a conflict more severe.
పొరుగింటి అట్లకు తిమ్మనం కాచుకుందట
poruginti atlaku timmanam kachukundata
She prepared the seasoning for the pancakes being cooked in the neighbor's house.
This proverb is used to describe someone who is overly eager, meddlesome, or makes premature preparations based on someone else's resources or actions without being asked. It highlights the foolishness of depending on or intervening in matters that do not belong to oneself.
ఇంటి పిల్లికి పొరుగింటి పిల్లి తోడు
inti pilliki poruginti pilli todu
The neighbour's cat is the ally of the house cat. Both join in mischief.
This expression is used to describe a situation where two people, often who should be at odds or are expected to be rivals, secretly collaborate or help each other for mutual benefit. It is frequently used to highlight how internal and external parties might conspire together, often in a negative or mischievous context.
నిప్పుకు నెయ్యి తోడయినట్లు
nippuku neyyi todayinatlu
Like adding ghee to fire
This expression is used to describe a situation where an already intense emotion or conflict is further escalated or fueled by an additional factor. Similar to the English idiom 'adding fuel to the fire,' it signifies making a bad situation worse or making an existing anger even more explosive.